The SUSD Governing Board on Tuesday night recognized Arcadia Senior and Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, Daniela Sanchez Morales.

Daniela first walked through the doors of the Hartley & Ruth Barker Boys & Girls Club at just seven years old. What started as an after-school spot became a place where she found her voice, built confidence, and discovered her purpose.

Through mentorship and opportunities at the Club, Daniela learned that true strength comes from serving others. Her resilience, leadership, and dedication to her community earned her this incredible honor.

Congratulations, Daniela!

At last week's SUSD Governing Board Meeting, we celebrated one of our youngest artists.

Luna is a first-grade student in Mrs. Graham’s class at Redfield Elementary, and she recently won the Scottsdale Public Library’s Design a Library Card Contest.

Her creative design was selected as the winning entry and will soon be available at all Scottsdale Public Library locations beginning in March. This means library visitors across the community will be able to carry Luna’s artwork on their very own library card.

What a wonderful way for a young student to share creativity and imagination with our entire community!

At a recent SUSD Governing Board meeting, we recognized outstanding students from Chaparral High School’s Criminal Justice Career and Technical Education program and Desert Mountain High School’s Marketing and DECA program.

Chaparral students competed at the Region 2 SkillsUSA Conference, where they demonstrated real-world skills such as crime scene investigation, professional communication, customer service, and job interview techniques. They earned top placements in multiple competitive categories.

Desert Mountain students also impressed at the Arizona State DECA Competition, competing against top students from across the state. Through these events, students apply classroom learning to real-world business challenges while building skills in marketing, teamwork, communication, and leadership.

At the state competition, Desert Mountain students delivered an incredible performance, each earning first-place finishes in their respective events.

Congratulations to these talented students for representing their schools and SUSD so well!

At a recent SUSD Governing Board meeting, we proudly recognized the AIA 4A Boys Basketball State Champion Arcadia Titans for their historic season. Their championship run was fueled by determination, teamwork, and a belief in one another that only grew stronger with each game.

This incredible achievement reflects the hard work of these student-athletes, the leadership of their coaches, and the unwavering support of their families and the Arcadia community. 

Congratulations, Titans, on bringing home the 4A Boys Basketball State Championship and making Arcadia history!

The Scottsdale Family ArtsFest is one of our district’s most vibrant celebrations of student talent. While the community enjoys two magical days filled with performances and incredible student artwork, what many may not see are the months of planning, coordination, and collaboration that make it all possible.

At a recent SUSD Governing Board meeting, we were proud to recognize Coordinator of Fine Arts Michelle Irvin and Administrative Support Coordinator Christina Diaz. Their dedication, creativity, and countless hours of work helped make this year’s ArtsFest an incredible success.

Working closely with Scottsdale Arts, the City of Scottsdale, community partners, and every one of our schools, Michelle and Christina helped bring this special event to life and create a memorable experience for our students, families, and community.

At Tuesday night’s board meeting we celebrated two of our three 2026 A+ Schools of Excellence® recognized by the Arizona Educational Foundation.

Anasazi Elementary and Kiva Elementary along with Redfield Elementary earned this honor for outstanding leadership, strong academics, a positive school culture, and meaningful family and community engagement.

This prestigious designation requires a thorough application and a rigorous site visit process. These schools truly earned it!

Congratulations to our amazing students, educators and staff!

At Tuesday night’s SUSD Governing Board Meeting, we celebrated Tavan Elementary and Hohokam Elementary for earning the prestigious Blue Zones Designation!

SUSD is proud to now have 16 schools recognized as Blue Zones Approved locations!

The Blue Zones Project is inspired by research from Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and bestselling author who has studied the world’s longest-living and healthiest communities.

From encouraging movement and healthy eating to building positive connections, our schools are taking meaningful steps to promote wellness and build healthier futures for all!