Cesar E Chavez Community School

This is a school that is undergoing a metamorphosis. There are 9 existing teachers left from last years' staff. 17 of us are new. This is my 7th year of teaching and I am well educated with experience in the classroom as well as a Master's degree. Cesar Chavez is beginning to run like a well oiled machine. The current administration gives up Saturdays, stays late and asks for teacher input often in order to make the school a better institution for kids and the community at large. While no place is perfect and public education needs a serious overhaul in general, this school is on a recent upswing and I am proud to be a teacher employed there.
—Submitted by a teacher

The school was moving in the right direction last year. It is a performing plus school. The state came and took over this school and now the school seems to be going down hill. Staff morale seems very low and the principal cannot communicate with parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Very nice school, but too big. Has 3000 students
—Submitted by a parent

Chavez lacks organization and leadership. The new principal is trying however; teacher involvement or lack thereof is disappointing. This school caters to the none English speaking community, I am Hispanic and unimpressed with the lack of interest on the faculty's part unless you do not speak English and the district office is no better. Unfortunately, now my choices are limited considering all but a few school's in this district are 'failing. The middle school teachers I have met all but one (Ms. Strange) lack compassion and motivation. As for elementary teachers, only one deserves recognition that would be Ms. Hawken. These two teachers are great; unfortunately, no one else can hold a candle to them, thank you both for coming into my children's lives. I wish I had positive things to say regretfully I do not. If you have a choice, I would strongly recommend you send your child to another school even district if possible. The PTSO is what I have seen a joke. This school has no strive for greatness and even less enthusiasm. I believe only 10% of the student body will further their education, which is not encouraged by the staff, or at least I have never seen it.
—Submitted by a parent

I was impressed with new building and my child s kindergarten teacher as well as the art teacher. I was not impressed with school front office secretaries who never had enough information about the school or the Principal and Assistant Principal who were never accessible to the parents. Very unorganized, letters/flyers sent home with child were misspelled and not written in proper English. No (PTA) Parent Teacher Association or attempt to construct one. There were some nice family nights at school but not enough to make up for all the negatives. Went on field trip with my child class and was very concerned with the lack of supervision the children had and the lack of organization and professionalism of the teachers. My child will be attending another school for 1st grade.
—Submitted by a parent

Chavez offers a lot of after school programs for the students: choir, dance, drama, tutoring, and various sports. There is a need for stronger parental involvement, as well as leadership.
—Submitted by a teacher

Cesar Chavez is a striving school and we welcome any and all parents to participate in any way they can.We need your involvement to help keep our children learning and growing. Mrs Osnato 1st grade and Mr. Garcia 3rd grade are exceptional teachers and provide the best teaching for the children. Way to go guy's! Keep up the good work!
—Submitted by a parent

This school provides parent work shops to help our parents grow and be better parents, they have after school programs homework help,recreation provided by the city of Phoenix, they have computer classes after school,summer classes such as a Learn and Serve Program to teach the childeren respect, careing and shareing amoung other things. These teachers and staff care about these childeren as if they were their own. Matter of fact a few of them have their own childeren going to this school. We have many teachers that reach out to these childeren, encourage, excite, teach, and show these childeren leadership. I have had 3 childeren in this school, one has moved on to high school and will graduate this year (2003) the support I received from the teachers to get him to high school was great, Iam looking forward to the same with my other two girls.

Cesar Chavez is a inner city community school providing medical & educational services to parents, students and community members. They are providing these programs to break the cycle of poverty. These students are the best!