Legacy Traditional School Principal Valerie Merrill Named Arizona Charter School Association’s
Transformational Leader of the Year
Gilbert, AZ – Valerie Merrill, principal of Legacy Traditional School in Gilbert, has been named the 2016 Transformational Leader of the Year by the Arizona Charter Schools Association. The award recognizes individuals who exhibit outstanding leadership with a documented history of improved student achievement and academic growth.
Over the last three years, Ms. Merrill has made a significant contribution to the success of Legacy Traditional School in Gilbert. Her leadership helped to foster and develop a new catalyzing culture for students, staff, and parents. Ms. Merrill has strong ties to Gilbert both as a former Higley Unified School Teacher of the Year and resident where she is recognized as a highly-effective and respected educational leader in the community.
Legacy’s Chief Academic Officer, Bill Bressler said, “Ms. Merrill guided a school’s cultural and climate transformation by executing a strategy based on the premise that positive student outcomes will not change until adult behaviors change. Consequently, student social and academic growth became the common norm in the school community.”
He added, “Beyond question, Legacy Traditional School – Gilbert’s parents, local community members, and Mrs. Merrill’s staff are united and share a belief that their children will be happy, healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. Children are the priority in this school and the results have been remarkable,”
Ms. Merrill said, “I am truly humbled and honored to represent Legacy Traditional School as the Arizona Charter’s 2016 Transformational Leader of the Year. The work being accomplished at our campus is due to the to the dynamic team of faculty, staff, students — and of course — our parents.”
Merrill joins fellow 2016 Arizona Charter Schools Association award winners and finalists on November 2 at the Association’s annual luncheon recognizing the top charter teacher, leader, business manager and charter school in Arizona.
► Read the full story on Ms. Valerie Merrill’s 2016 Transformational Leader Award
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