Devil's Thumb

Staff and parents felt they could bully me and my child because she was white British and so was I. I won't ever forgive them for that.

Our family is so grateful to have found Mesa Elementary. Mesa is a wonderful school that values every student. While Mesa is a public school, each student is given the attention and support of a private school education. While being a high achieving school, the principal and staff prioritize social emotional health and physical health equally. Due to the school's dedication to the whole child and creating a welcoming environment for all, Mesa is awarded the Human Rights Campaign Seal of Excellence Welcoming School. This is our second year at Mesa, we moved from out of state. Previously my children didn't like school, only recess and PE. They weren't challenged academically, bored, and getting out the door to school every day was rough, Mesa turned that around. The teachers at Mesa saw my kids for their potential and uniqueness immediately. Within the first two weeks of school, one teacher identified my children as gifted, and we pursued testing for the gifted and talented program. The same teacher also prioritized helping them feel welcome and friendships in class. This child loved Mesa immediately. My other child is thriving in the RISE (Reaching Independence through Structured Environments) Autism program at Mesa. Mesa's RISE program has transformed my child's relationship with school. To be autistic, is to experience the world very differently than others. My little guy had a lot of school trauma from being unsupported and misunderstood at his previous school. The Rise staff, and all the staff at Mesa, have nurtured felt safety for him at school so he can be receptive to learning and enjoy school. One of his goals for school was to make friends. By the end of his first year he had made 3 friends! He went from having hours of school refusal daily to getting ready and out the door on his own. The parent and PTO community is awesome. The PTO raises a significant amount of money to partially pay for 5 additional staff members (reading, math, library and G & T program). There are monthly morning coffees that coincide with PTO meetings. The Family and Educators Together and Community, Culture and Belonging committees work together to nurture a supportive and welcoming environment for all students and families.