Superintendent highlights academic gains, community engagement and program successes
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Barry reported that district students outperformed statewide averages on spring 2025 assessments, credited staff and community partnerships, and highlighted a virtual town hall reaching more than 26,000 families and an alumni JROTC spotlight.
Superintendent Dr. Barry presented the regular superintendent's report organized around the district's five strategic priorities. He said the district serves about 15,600 students across roughly 48 square miles and that staff are tracking capital planning and operations in the district newsletter, including the annual financial report (AFR) and the capital plan.
Dr. Barry highlighted program and community engagement: he said Queen Creek Elementary staff presented at the Arizona Health and PE Convention, the school hosted an Arizona Cardinals youth training camp, and the district's first virtual town hall reached more than 26,000 families. He also noted recognition for Principal Beverly Nichols by No Kid Hungry for innovations in the lunch program.
On student achievement, Dr. Barry said the district outperformed statewide averages on spring 2025 assessments, citing roughly 20 percentage points above state averages for elementary grades (third, fourth and sixth graders called out for math), and at the high-school level reporting approximately 15% above in English language arts and 17% above in math on ACT measures. He emphasized continued focus on improvement and previewed an alumni spotlight featuring William Waddington, a Queen Creek High alumnus now in Army ROTC, who described benefits of the JROTC program.
Dr. Barry framed these items as evidence of steady progress and community engagement; the board received the report and celebrated honorees during the meeting.
