• By Amy Krauss 
• Special to the Arizona Daily Star
•  
• Mar 21, 2026

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending ceremonies where Sunrise Drive and Ventana Vista elementary schools each received the prestigious A+ School of Excellence™ award from the Arizona Educational Foundation. This designation -— awarded to only 48 public schools statewide — validates the "soul" of a school, the culture, safety, and inclusive environment that teachers build brick by brick, day by day.

Sunrise Drive and Ventana Vista (a Spanish Immersion school) are part of the Catalina Foothills School District, where I proudly serve as a governing board member. For the third consecutive year, every single school in our district earned an "A" rating from the Arizona Department of Education. Together, these markers serve as a powerful testament to the dedication of our educators, administrators, and staff. In the challenging landscape of public education in Arizona, achieving excellence is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of relentless, intentional work.

The educators in our district have proven that through passion, professionalism, and a steadfast focus on the student, excellence is not only possible—it is being achieved every day. By earning these A and A+ designations, our educators have demonstrated that the traditional public-school model (which accounts for over 850,000 K-12 students) remains a vibrant, high-achieving, and essential choice for families seeking academic rigor and a true sense of belonging.

We are fortunate in CFSD that our community has consistently voted to tax themselves in order to provide supplemental funds that are used to provide robust academic programs and extracurricular opportunities to our students. Since 2022, eleven additional school districts in Pima County have passed bonds and/or overrides. This says a lot. It requires a diverse coalition of voters - from across the political spectrum - to agree on a single local priority: the success of their neighborhood schools.

Public schools must succeed because they are built to serve every child. On any given day in a public-school classroom, you will find gifted students preparing for advanced coursework, English learners mastering a new language while learning grade-level content, and students with disabilities receiving specialized services. Public schools do not screen, select, or exclude; they welcome. When a student arrives midyear after moving from another state, a public school enrolls them immediately. When a child requires speech therapy, occupational therapy, or specialized instruction under an Individualized Education Program, a public school provides it. When a family cannot afford lunch, transportation, technology, or extracurricular fees, public schools step in so that opportunity is not determined by income.

And yet public education in Arizona navigates an era of unprecedented complexity. Our schools are operating within a highly competitive environment defined by shrinking per-pupil funding by the state, universal vouchers, expanding charter networks, and private alternatives. These external pressures are compounded by shifting demographics, such as declining birth rates, and the perennial struggle for sustainable, predictable funding.

Therefore, while I take immense pride in CFSD’s accomplishments, I believe it is important to recognize that the success of every school district is a victory for the concept of public education itself. Every public school deserves to be celebrated for the unique and vital role it plays. Public schools are the only educational institutions mandated to welcome every child who walks through their doors, providing a universal space for growth, discovery, and community integration. The educators working in these buildings are performing the essential work of democracy, ensuring that excellence is not an exclusive privilege but a standard available to all.

Numerous measures that will affect public school funding, operations, and governance are already being proposed for the election in November. As voters consider these matters, I urge you to remember the students in your neighborhood schools. Supporting public education is an investment in the foundational promise of our community and our nation: that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, matters, belongs, and deserves the chance to succeed.

Amy Krauss is serving her third term as a member of the Catalina Foothills School District Governing Board.

CFSD is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Learn more about Catalina Foothills School District at cfsd16.org.