Two Havasu Elementary Schools Receive State A+

By Becky Maxedon

Two Lake Havasu Unified School District elementary schools received an A+ from the Arizona Education Federation today. Nautilus and Starline elementary schools both received the high rating.

Shannon Williams, principal of Nautilus Elementary School, said, “We decided that because our students had made so much growth in the past three years, we wanted to apply for this special award.”

Williams said the school had gone from a D to an A, ranked by the state department.

“In June, a team of all my staff got together and startred working on the application. Everyone had a part in it,” she said.

Williams said the application was 23-pages long and involved a very grueling process.

“In January, we had passed the application stage, so they sent four judges from the Phoenix school district area who are all A+ school winners themselves, down for two days with us.”

Students play with beach balls during the announcement Friday morning at Nautilus Elementary School. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

The judges walked around and talked with teachers, students and community members.

“They talked with parents to find out about our school. To find out if we were deserving of this award and that everything we wrote in the application was what we were doing,” Williams said.

Williams said the Nautilus staff works with students with low abilities to bring them up and also with students with high abilities.

“We’ve created what we call our Ocean Program where the students get pulled out once a week to work on projects.

“We opened a new preschool this year for our youngest learners to get that foundation. And then, the community activities – our family activities – how our families feel like they’re supported – all of the communication that goes home with them.”

Williams said the excellence and dedication of the staff all of that wrapped together led to the decision by the A+ committee that Nautilus Elementary School was an A+ school of excellence in the state of Arizona.

Shannon Williams talks with students during the announcement Friday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

She added that only 31 schools in the state received this distinction this year.

LHUSD Starline Elementary was also recognized as an A+ school.

“Mrs. Sautner (Starline principal) and I had to decide how we were going to keep this a secret because they didn’t want us to let the cat out of the bag until the announcement today,” Williams said.

“I wanted my staff and students to hear the news at the same time because it’s all about our students and what’s best for them.

“The kids were so excited because they’ve been a part of the process. They knew about the judges – they knew what we were doing, and they were greeters when they came to the school. They gave them the tours. The adults didn’t have any part of that. It was all student-based.”

Williams said the staff has created leadership positions at the school for every student.

“That’s why the students were so excited, because they were involved in this process,” she said.

Ginny Sautner, principal of Starline Elementary, said, “Earning an A+ was a team effort from all staff, families and community.

“This is a year-long process where we had to reflect on the impact we have on students and demonstrate our climate and culture for A+ judges from the state level,” Sautner said.

“Above and beyond is a regular belief at Starline and now we have the A+ to show it,” she said.