At Self Development Academy (SDA), we are deeply committed to the early education of children, from preschool to kindergarten. Our unique approach, which combines academic excellence with emotional well-being, sets us apart. We take great pride in fostering a nurturing environment that not only encourages a lifelong love for learning but also ensures your child’s emotional well-being.
Nearly three and a half decades ago, a group of committed early childhood educators opened our private preschool. Since then, we have become a fixture in the Mesa community, opening a kindergarten program and later as a K-8 award-winning Charter School. We are not based on a desire to grow a business but inspired by our parents’ desires to see their children blossom.
SAFETY AND BELONGING IS PARAMOUNT
At Self Development Academy (SDA), we understand that the best place for your child is where they feel safe. Our environment, which prioritizes safety and belonging, is a fertile land from which children blossom. We assure you that your child’s safety and sense of belonging are our foremost priorities, fostering a sense of trust and reassurance. Safety and belonging are two sides of the same coin: safety involves place, whereas belonging involves community. SDA’s children later thrive because we create a caring and compassionate community where our kindergartners consider school a place to be happy and have fun while they learn.
DEDICATED TEACHERS + FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM = ADVANCED LEARNING
Self Development Academy is synonymous with personalized learning. Our unique model is designed to unlock each child’s inherent brilliance and ensure their individual growth and success. We employ a flexible curriculum taught in small groups to ensure that every child achieves academic success. “Arizona’s best teachers” (Niche, 2024) guide kindergartners to take responsibility for their learning and achieve academic success. We provide richer educational experiences by staffing our school with and providing plenty of educational resources, including an accelerated and advanced curriculum.
SELF DEVELOPMENT MEANS FULL-SCALE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF
SDA Students thrive because our teachers see academics as inseparable from character development, athleticism, and wisdom.
Students participate in activities that stimulate deep thinking and foster a love for learning. By the time our kindergartners enter first grade, most are reading fluently and with comprehension. Our first graders are, in no small order, deep thinkers who care about others.
OUR STEM+ARTS EDUCATION STRENGTHENS CURIOSITY AND DISCOVERY
SDA’s curriculum creatively teaches abstract concepts using popular literature to develop an interest in the sciences and encourage a love of reading. At the same time, kids have fun, gain confidence, and become lifelong learners. For a spring STEM project, we design novel ways to introduce concepts such as metamorphosis while strengthening our commitment to reading.
Last year, we initiated an innovative program in which our kindergarten students read to a large audience of parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. Each student was gifted the book they read, which they took home to read to their parents, siblings, and friends repeatedly. The book was selected for its relevance to students’ interest and familiarity and the topic covered, which was the metamorphosis of a caterpillar.
“We appreciate the commitment to instilling the love of reading in the students at SDA. Events like the Very Hungry Caterpillar Reading show that this comes from the top down. Dr. Majeed and the rest of the staff did an excellent job of curating an event that was meaningful to the parents and students alike,” commented a parent.
A COMMUNITY OF COMPASSIONATE LEARNERS
By paying close attention to social dynamics, we nurture the development of social skills like empathy, care, and compassion. We lay the foundation for character development and community service. By the time they complete their final year in this K-8 charter school, children exhibit a developed sense of responsibility to their community and the welfare of others.
Again, thank you for allowing us to share the extraordinary aspects of our kindergarten program that positively impact students’ school success and develop their love of a lifetime of learning. To find out more, please call (480) 641-2640.