Ventana Vista Elementary honored with Arizona A+ School of Excellence award

Ventana Vista Elementary School received the Arizona Educational Foundation’s A+ School of Excellence award at the Catalina Foothills Unified School District governing board meeting April 7.

Board member Jacqueline Dvali presented the honor and described the award process: a 47-question written application due in August, a follow-up site visit by judges in December that included classroom observations and meetings with staff, parents and students, and a minimum of 20 community participants who met with the review team. Dvali said Ventana Vista’s Spanish immersion program, early robotics classes, robust music and visual arts offerings, and broad family and volunteer engagement distinguished the campus.

Principal Dr. Judy Dolman accepted the recognition and thanked staff and volunteers who helped assemble the application and host the site visit. Dvali noted the school was notified on Feb. 17 that it was among 48 Arizona public schools to receive the designation, which will remain in effect through 2030.

The board recognized teachers, staff and community volunteers by name during the ceremony. Dvali and Dr. Dolman said the designation highlights the school’s holistic supports—academic, social and cultural—and called out contributions from parent leaders, including Emily Rubio, identified in remarks as Ventana Vista’s family/organization president who helped coordinate community participation during the review.

The board and administration encouraged families and visitors to look for the school’s A+ banner on campus and thanked students for participating in the recognition event. The acknowledgment was presented before the board moved on to other agenda business.