The Arizona Republic Volunteer Nancy Heller helps fourth-graders Becca Biehler and Carter Donaldson, both 9, work on the school yearbook at Sequoya Elementary in Scottsdale recently. It's decorated with student papers and artwork, and clean glass-block and cement benches. The success is a community effort. Every day, the place is crawling with mothers, fathers, grandparents - an army of about 350 volunteers annually. About 85 percent of parents are members of the aggressive, organized, fund-raising machine known as the Association of Parents and Teachers.
Members also help put out the yearbook and run special art or theater programs.
It's not that we have better teachers here. But without parent support and participation, it's hard to motivate children. The children aren't the only ones motivated. About 75 percent of the teachers at Sequoya have been there since the school opened 12 years ago. Fifth-graders at Sequoya are a satisfied bunch who like their teachers, their classmates and their neighborhood, and nothing much offered in the cafeteria.