March 6, 2024

• A Bouquet full of #extraordinary Teachers- Meet the DVEF 22-23 Teachers & Rookie of the Year!
• Are you Budding with Job Satisfaction? Give your Feedback on the Employee Satisfaction Survey!
• Contracts have sprouted! Review your 2024-25 Contract today!
• Showing up Strong in Spring- DECA Racks up State Awards!
• Buzzing with Excitement- DVUSD Athletics Champions are in full bloom!
• Don't forget-me-not! Check out what's coming up in March!
• Make Getting in shape for Spring a Breeze! Sign up for the DVUSD 5k!
• Before and Afterschool Registration Opens Early to DVUSD Employees!
• Watch the latest Portrait of a Graduate- How one Skyhawk has bloomed since graduation!
• Happy National Social Work Week & Athletic Trainer's Month - learn more about their roles!

Deer Valley Unified School District is administering its annual employee satisfaction survey to gather feedback from employees about their satisfaction with DVUSD leadership and the work environment. The results of this survey will be used to help inform future improvements within the district. The survey will remain open to collect responses until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 1.

Please click or ctrl-click on the link or button below to begin the survey. You can also copy or type the link into any web browser.

https://url.dvusd.org/708d8bb4

You can also complete the survey by scanning the QR code.

All responses will remain strictly anonymous and confidential and cannot be connected to an individual employee or IP address. Reporting will rely on aggregated results only, and the survey platform (SurveyMonkey) will not collect identifying information.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

If you have trouble accessing the survey, please contact Scott Smith @ scott.smith@dvusd.org.

As of March 7, 2024, at 4 p.m , 2024-2025 contracts were ready for your review.

Contracts are available on the DVUSD Portal under “My Menu” and choosing the iVisions EA icon.

All contracted employees will see their 2023-2024 base contract amounts reflected. Similar to previous years, should the Governing Board approve any additional increases for the 2024-2025 contract year, those amounts will be reflected in an updated contract issued to staff at a later date. Professional Growth will also be reflected at this later date.

Timelines for Signing Contracts:

• Statutorily, Certified and Other Professional employees must accept their contract within 15 business days of the issue date (spring break not included). This date is April 4, 2024.

• Statutorily, Psychologists, Administrative/Exempt, and Deputy Superintendents must accept their contracts within 30 calendar days. This date is April 5, 2024.
  
  

Please note: If you are not a 12 month employee, you will see two pay options to choose from for the 2024-2025 contract year. Please take time to consider the planned pay days in correlation with the pay option you select. Your bi-weekly pay will be adjusted according to the pay option you select.

For more information including trouble shooting, review the email sent regarding contracts yesterday (Thursday, March 7)

If you have any questions regarding your contract, please contact Sarah Pickard, HR Systems Technician, or Kristi Bushnell, Manager of Human Resources.

Each year the Deer Valley Education (DVEF) recognizes DVUSD Teachers and Rookies of the Year. These skilled and dedicated teachers have gained the respect and admiration of students, parents, and co-workers, and have the superior ability to help students achieve. Since 1986, DVEF has supported the work and achievement of Deer Valley students and staff. And, for the past 30 years, they have recognized our most outstanding teachers. This group of teachers is selected after an extensive nomination, application and interview process.

Congratulations to the 2022-23 Teachers and Rookie of the Year!

Carrie Bauer, West Wing, 3rd grade

Emmett Burnton, Boulder Creek, 10th grade History, AP History and Dual Enrollment US History

Kimberlee Donat, Gavilan Peak, 6th grade Math

Steve Hrovat, Greenbrier, 6th grade

Dr. Caryn Kunz, Sunset Ridge, 4th grade General Music and Band for grades 5-8

Katherine Richardson-Espiau, Canyon Springs STEM Academy, 5th grade Math

Tiffany Roose, Diamond Canyon, 4th grade

Mary Smitten, Norterra Canyon, Special Education K-3

Courtney Sutton, West Wing, 8th grade Math and Algebra

Lindsay Trefzger, West Wing, Kindergarten

Buffy Vandenboom, Terramar, 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies

Shanna Weible, Inspiration Mountain, Kindergarten

Enpengfei Zhao, Gavilan Peak, 6th grade Mandarin/Science and Social Studies

Rookie of the Year

Liam Morales, Boulder Creek, 10th Grade English Language Arts

Each month DVUSD will feature a graduate who meets the five qualities of excellence in alumni: Community Contributor, Effective Communicator, Intellectually Curious, Problem Solver, and Sense of Self and Others.

The most recent Portrait of a Graduate features Jake Phillips a 2014 graduate from Deer Valley High School. While he was there, he took advantage of team sports opportunities, journalism classes, and the Junior Air Force ROTC program. All of these experiences made Jake who he is today-- the director of the Pentagon Tours Program, and a member of the prestigious Air Force Honor Guard. Watch his story in the video below.

See more Portrait of a Graduate videos at DVUSD.org/PortraitofaGraduate.

Nominate a Portrait of a Graduate alumni for us to spotlight. DVUSD will consider all suggestions, but in no way guarantees that any suggested alumni will be featured in a future episode of the video series.

"I love being a part of the AP/Finance team and I am looking forward to the creativity and inspiration we will use to introduce and implement some finance related process changes district wide this year. We got this!"

Three DVUSD basketball teams left it all on the hardwood last week on their quest toward three respective state championships!

First up, Deer Valley High School battled with Tucson's Sahuaro in an overtime thriller to secure the school's first-ever Boy's Basketball 4A State Championship.

In the 6A division, both Sandra Day O'Connor High School's girl's and boy's teams squared off on Saturday with their sights set on a title. The lady Eagles cleared their path to a state title after an adjustment in the third quarter. The team didn't let their lead slip below double digits until the final minutes of the the third quarter and they walked away with their first 6A Girl's Basketball state title following the first state championship game appearance in program history!

The Sandra Day O'Connor Boy's Basketball team rounded out DVUSD's playoff run with a tough game against Liberty High School Saturday afternoon. Despite their best efforts, the Eagles came up short, earning a 6A State Championship Runner-up title.

At the heart of PLC collaborative team planning is a commitment to student success and continuous improvement. By utilizing a variety of instructional strategies tailored to different learning styles and abilities, DVUSD educators ensure that their units of study cater to the diverse needs of their classrooms. Moreover, by grounding their planning in standards, these teams ensure that their curricula are not only rigorous but also relevant, preparing students for success. Through the synergy of collective expertise and a shared dedication to excellence, PLC collaborative teams empower both educators and students to reach new heights of achievement Professional Learning Communities have emerged as powerful platforms for collaborative growth among educators across our schools in DVUSD. Teams of teachers are coming together to plan units of study, leveraging instructional strategies and using standards as guiding pillars to provide exceptional instruction. Through the collaborative efforts of these teams, educators pool their expertise and diverse perspectives to craft comprehensive and engaging curricula that align with standards while addressing the unique needs of their students. Our teachers are committed to each other and the work that comes out of the collaborative team process. Above all, we know that this intentional collaboration is benefiting our students in reaching high levels of learning!

Pictured here is a 3rd grade collaborative team at Mirage Elementary School.

This past weekend, Mountain Ridge High School's (MRHS) Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) team represented Mountain Ridge and DVUSD well at the State Career Development Conference, competing against 2,000 peers statewide.

Over three days, they showcased their skills in various competitive events, engaged in leadership workshops, and connected with local businesses and fellow students.

Mountain Ridge students achieved remarkable success, with numerous top-five placements, securing their spots at the International Conference in April where they will compete against nearly 20,000 students from around the world.

Here's a summary of MRHS achievements:

• 12 first-place finishes (State Champions!)
• 6 second-place finishes
• 9 third-place finishes
• 9 fourth-place finishes
• 5 fifth-place finishes

DECA advisor and Mountain Ridge Marketing Teacher, Jeff Samaniego, also earned Chapter Advisor of the Year for the state of Arizona during the conference!

"Mr. McLain is a very supportive and helpful administrator. He is never too busy to lend a hand and his open door policy makes him incredibly reliable and approachable. He goes out of his way to show his appreciation for the teachers and staff. He truly wants staff and students to be successful and invested in the school. He leads by example." - Toni Evans, Instructional Coach

WellStyles is a comprehensive wellness program providing education, motivation, and actively cultivating opportunities to improve well-being, mindfulness, fitness, and overall quality of life for members.

This program is your personalized health and wellness program designed to meet you where you're at in your health and wellness journey!

You can earn up to $200 in gift cards by tracking your movement, engaging in WellStyles activities, and for preventative Care exams!

Athletic Trainers in the Deer Valley Unified School District would like to share information each week about athletic training and how we care for athletes From Head To Toe.

What is an Athletic Trainer? An Athletic Trainer is a certified and licensed health care professional who are trained in the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation in medical conditions and injuries.

Celebrate National Athletic Training Month with “From Head To Toe”, by getting to know the DVUSD Athletic Trainers. See the attached infographics to learn more about Athletic Trainers and their importance within sports.

March 4-8 is National School Social Worker Week! In recognition of the #extraordinary work all of the DVUSD social workers accomplish each day, here is a story about James Schlemmer, Vista Peak's social worker.

James Schlemmer has been a great addition to the Vista Peak family. Even though he has been here since January we have seen the amazing impact he has had on the students and staff. The amount of knowledge and resources that James has brought to Vista Peak has allowed us to better help students and families. James has become a vital part of the Vista Peak family.

Please join our 'DVUSD Steppin' Up to Spring Step Challenge' in WellStyles! Join a school or department team to track your steps and earn WellStyles points! Let's get moving together!

DVUSD will be hosting our '2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk' on March 23 at Sandra Day O'Connor High School! You can sign up for the event HERE.

All participants that register by March 8 will receive an event T-shirt. Prizes will be awarded for the most spirited team and individual attire! All staff, students, and families are invited to attend. We hope to see you there!

DVUSD employees are able to register early for DVUSD Before and After School programs. Registration opens March 21st-24th. Please have employee ID ready when you register, you will be asked to add this when you are building your contract.

If an employee misses early registration, the next opportunity to register would be when registration opens to the public on March 28th.

Registration for DVUSD Community Education Summer Camp is NOW OPEN!

See additional details on the flyers below.

Register for either camp at HTTPS://DEERVALLEY.CE.ELEYO.COM

We are excited to announce we are opening a new preschool/PK program at The Traditional Academy at Bellair. Parents inquiring about locations and other information may visit our website at www.dvusd.org/preschool or contact Traci Piccoli at Traci.Piccoli@dvusd.org / 623-376-3979.

• March 8,22 - 90 min early release
• March 11-15 - Spring Break, No School (all schools and the district office closed)
• March 19 - Governing Board Meeting (7 p.m.) Within 24 hours of meeting, View Agenda / Watch Meeting Live (or watch later)
  
  

March Recognition Days, Weeks & Months
March 8 - National Preschoolers Day

March 14 - Pi Day

March 4-8 - National School Social Worker & School Breakfast Week

March is...

National Athletic Training Month

National Nutrition Month

Music in Our Schools Month

Youth Art Month

Women's History Month

The 2024-2025 employee calendar and pay dates can be found on the portal, under Payroll and Benefits.

Also for next year (2024-25), the Benefit Committee - comprised of representatives from all our employee groups – developed an employee benefits recommendation that was approved by the Governing Board on February 27, 2024. Information regarding employee benefit open enrollment will be coming to you soon.

Classified/Hourly Employees:

We are eager to welcome back our Classified/Hourly employees, too. All Classified/Hourly appointments will be sent out later this spring.

In 1986, Victor Mendoza and his younger brother came to the United States from Guatemala with literally nothing and no one to connect with. Over the next 30 years, Victor worked hard as a maintenance technician at various businesses around Phoenix, and then he found a home in DVUSD starting at Deer Valley High School.

Victor's extraordinary story is shared with Dr. Finch, and with you, as the first of many employee spotlights we'll bring to you on The 'Supe Scoop podcast.

Listen to more episodes of The 'Supe Scoop at DVUSD.org/supescoop.

Number of school visits: 379

Number of classroom visits: 616

This is your opportunity to have your taxes prepared for FREE! This is our third year running this program in DVUSD, and we have a goal to prepare 50 tax returns!

Appointments are available at SDOHS - if you or a family member/friend has a basic return please sign up here: https://forms.gle/byd9pbSKRCgc5Nxv6. Or e-mail Tiffany.Kurtz@dvusd.org with scheduling conflicts.

We can prepare and e-file most basic returns, including:

• W-2’s

• 1099’s (excluding 1099-H)

• 1098’s (excluding 1098-C and 1098-MA)

• educator expenses

• education credits/tuition and fees deductions

• See a complete list here : https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3676a.pdf

What to bring:

• Completed Intake and Interview Form (Attached)
• Photo ID & Social Security Card or ITIN for each person on your tax return
• All tax forms (W-2's, 1099s, 1098s & any other tax forms)
• Last year's tax return (new clients)
• Savings and checking account and routing numbers for direct deposit
  

Returns are prepared by IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Certified Advanced Accounting students and are quality reviewed with you by a certified quality reviewer before being efiled with the IRS. This is a drop off service, so you will meet with a tax preparer to answer questions and provide your tax forms, and then return at a later date to review and e-file your completed return.

Thank you for helping our DVUSD Accounting students develop invaluable life skills! If you have any questions e-mail Tiffany.Kurtz@dvusd.org.

Prom season is here! Ready to clean out the 27 bridesmaid/prom/fancy dresses you own during Spring Break? What about that old suit/tux in the back you haven't worn in awhile? BGHS is accepting donated formal wear for the Fairy Godmother herself, Ann Ordway. If you don't know, she arranges for local high school students to show up to prom looking amazing, making wishes come true for many! All formal wear can be dropped off in the Superintendents office. Formal and semi formal dresses, long or short, shoes, boys/men's suits, ties, shirts and shoes in all sizes are accepted. Ann also invites middle school students who need promotion clothes as well. We appreciate your help!