Nearly six years ago, a small group of Valley teachers began dreaming about designing their ideal school, and after years of discussion, debate, planning and a fortuitous trip to Kazakhstan, Sierra Preparatory Academy (SPA) was born.
This August, Sierra Prep will open its doors to welcome its first students in grades six through nine. They will help build a unique community with a rigorous curriculum in the East Valley.
As a tuition-free, public charter school, the goal of Sierra Prep is to prepare students to be lifelong learners. One of the lead teachers, Dr. Darryl Orletsky, recently commented, “We are not here to tell students what they ought to do with their lives, but we are here to help them understand what it means to be well-educated. When they are able to ask good questions, think critically, and use sound judgment in problem-solving, they will be prepared for any endeavor in life.”
This fall, students in East Mesa finally will have the opportunity to benefit from years of collaborative efforts, which have built this unique school.
Behind the mission and curriculum of SPA is a group of fascinating people dedicated to improving education in Arizona. Their diverse stories are worth telling, if only in brief.
Yuliya Yatsyshina, Co-Founder—Ms. Yatsyshina grew up in the isolated Soviet village of Belousovka, Kazakhstan, where she dreamt of an international career. As a teenager, she refused to attend her local school in favor of a school with a better English program, but which was much further away. Following graduation from Moscow State University, Ms. Yatsyshina worked at the Kazakh-American Free University, where she earned a scholarship to study for an MBA in the United States. School choice is at the heart of Ms. Yatsyshina’s success, and her decision to help found Sierra Prep is one way in which she is giving back to her adopted country.
Darryl Orletsky, Vice President—Even if you didn’t know that Dr. Orletsky crossed the country on his bicycle at age 16, or never knew about his military career, in Europe, or knew nothing about the successful beekeeping company he founded, he would still be one of the most interesting people you have ever met. Sierra Prep is fortunate to have this award-winning teacher as the chief architect of our Natural Philosophy program and as a mentor teacher to our staff.
Steve Weiner, Board Member—When parents ask me why we teach Latin, I want to respond, “So they can teach math and physics.” This is precisely what Mr. Weiner has done. He is a true Renaissance man who majored in classics, and is passionate about teaching science through project-based models. A former teacher, at Chandler Preparatory Academy, he is designing the Leonardo Da Vinci Maker Studio when he is not busy with his full-time work as the developer of the Arizona Science Center’s new maker space.
Thomas Doebler, Board Member—The man on campus who is working on a glass-blowing project, while reciting poetry and working out football plays in his head is most likely Mr. Doebler. Another Renaissance man in SPA’s ranks, he began his teaching career with Teach for America, in Brownsville, Texas. Today, he is a regional coordinator for Exceptional Student Services, in the Great Hearts network, and, as an SPA board member, will be instrumental in guiding our Special Education programs.
Joseph Irvine, Board Member—When he isn’t flying planes, or planning expeditions to unexplored islands in the Indian Ocean, Joseph usually is designing computer systems for schools around the U.S. A graduate of Tempe Preparatory Academy, he currently is the lead enterprise architect for the U.S. Army, and has encouraged our Russian and Arabic language programs, knowing the extraordinary career opportunities awaiting students who study these languages.
Ron Bergez, Advisory Board Member—A much-beloved teacher at Tempe Preparatory Academy and former headmaster, Mr. Bergez should have the title of chief educational philosopher for Sierra Prep, for it is his thoughtful counsel that has been foundational to the school’s design. A treat for any student or colleague is to have tea with Mr. Bergez while he recounts adventures in California, Israel, Oxford and Paris. He dreams of leading a trip to walk the pilgrimage trail along the Camino de Santiago.
Hugh Hallman, Advisory Board Member—You may recognize Mr. Hallman as the former Mayor of Tempe, or as a past headmaster of Tempe Preparatory Academy. Or perhaps you have run past him in one of the 17 half-marathons in which he has participated this past year. A Valley native, he is one of Arizona’s most dedicated public servants, and as a successful educator and attorney, he spearheaded the founding of Sierra Prep.
These are just a few of the extraordinary people who have banded together to design and implement the programs at Sierra Prep. They serve as examples and mentors to our students. Most importantly, they are dedicated to building a dynamic community of learners who will support all student endeavors.
For more information about Sierra Preparatory Academy, visit our website at www.sierraprepaz.org, or call (480) 440-0238.