Tag: FALA
STEMMYs recognize STEM leaders, new STEM City director. See more local education news here
By Kaitlin Olson • Arizona Daily Sun Whether looking up to the stars or down to microorganisms, creating new technologies or improving existing ones, Flagstaff is home to science, technology, engineering and mathematics enthusiasts young and old who were recognized this week at STEM City’s seventh annual STEM Awards (“STEMMYs”). About 50 community members gathered at […]
FHS senior receives certificates from CCC before graduation. See more local education news here
Her mother and grandmother constantly told her education is important.She took those words to heart.Flagstaff High School senior Nevaeh Nez, 18, will be receiving two certifications from Coconino Community College on May 10 during Commencement. She will be handed certificates in Pre-Health Careers and Nursing Assistant a month before she receives her high school diploma.
Flagstaff dance students raise money for teacher’s hometown
Throughout December, Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy students have been raising funds to help victims of the Paradise, California wildfire – including dance instructor Cori Wall Mee’s family – rebuild their beloved town.
NPA superintendent retires with main goals achieved. See more education news here
After 12 years of guiding the growth of Northland Preparatory Academy, Superintendent Bob Lombardi is stepping down.
Lombardi said he’s enjoyed the years he’s spent at NPA helping the campus, the students and the staff grow from about 360 students in 2006 to 640 students today. The school has a 99 percent graduation rate with the majority of its graduates heading to college.
Flagstaff Arts and Leadership boardmember takes on role of interim executive director. See more education stories here
A member of the governing board at Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy will step down in order to fill the position of interim executive director at the school.
According to an email from the FALA Board of Directors, the board chose Eli Cohen to fill the position after interviewing four candidates on March 28. The motion to appoint him passed unanimously and Cohen was accepted.
FALA unrolling fundraising plan to keep school on track. See more education stories here
Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy is enlisting the help of students, staff and parent volunteers to make a fundraising plan that will hopefully smooth out the school’s finances.
The academy finances have always been relatively cyclical because they depend on the number of students enrolled in the school, but recently a number of financial problems have come to a head, leaving the school facing the possibility of a shortfall of about $160,000 at the end of June, said FALA Executive Director Larry Wallen.
Educator Spotlight: Rich Krueger — Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA)
Rich Krueger has been teaching at the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA) since 2011. He teaches a wide range of subjects including, Liberal Studies, Physics, Geology, Meteorology, Engineering, Astronomy, Outdoor Explorations, Sound Engineering and oversees two award winning Robotics teams.
Educator Highlight: Betsy Hamill — Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA)
Betsy Hamill is a dynamic teacher of African dance and world music here in Flagstaff, Arizona. Hamill’s background includes extensive musical training from Carnegie Mellon University, where her focus was on the French Horn, and the California institute of the Arts where she received a BFA in World Music with a focus on Ewe Drumming and Dance from Ghana. …
For the past 6 years Betsy Hamill has served as Co-Director at the Center for Indigenous Music along with her husband Chad. She also teaches multiple music and dance classes at the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA). She has established the FALA World Music Ensemble, the FALA Action Band (FAB) and a retro jazzy fun music group called Falunk. Her classes at FALA are so popular that there are waiting lists for students to get in.
Educator Highlight: Leslie Baker — Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy
Leslie Baker is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and creative artist. She has been teaching at Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA) for the last 15 years. There, she currently teaches 6 classes: Jazz dance, levels 1, 2 & 3; Modern 1; Tap dance; and Dance Through Time (dance history) to Middle and High School students. Ms. Baker often recreates and teaches students original choreography by masters such as Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins.
FALA students paint luggage for foster kids. See more Arizona Daily Sun education stories here
Students at Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy are working to make moving around to different foster homes a little easier for children in Arizona.
“When foster kids are removed from homes, they often have to put their things in black trash bags,” FALA art teacher Janeece Henes said. “We want to make it a little easier on them, and give them something to carry their things in.”
Henes’ class decided to solve the problem with a project they call “Love Luggage,” where students paint the outside of hard paneled suitcases and fill them with items that might provide comfort, hygiene or entertainment for children in the foster care system.
