News From Washington Elementary School District
WESD Welcomes Interim Superintendent
The Washington Elementary School District is proud to introduce Dr. Lupita Hightower, new interim superintendent of the WESD! Dr. Hightower was officially selected as interim superintendent during the June 26 Governing Board meeting and began her new role July 1.
"On behalf of the Washington Elementary School District Governing Board, we are honored to welcome Dr. Lupita Hightower as our Interim Superintendent. Dr. Hightower brings a deep commitment to student success, visionary leadership, and a passion for public education that aligns perfectly with the values of our WESD community. With extensive experience, Dr. Hightower is well-positioned to lead our district during this important transition. We look forward to working together to continue providing the highest quality education to every student in the Washington Elementary School District," said Governing Board President Kyle Clayton.
Dr. Hightower holds 28 years of educational experience, including 14 years as superintendent of the Tolleson Elementary School District. Early in her career, Dr. Hightower worked as a teacher at Sunnylope School and later served as an assistant principal at Washington Elementary – experiences rooted in the very district she now leads.
Recognized statewide and nationally for her leadership, Dr. Hightower was named Arizona Superintendent of the Year in 2023. Her accolades also include the 2024 Cesar Chavez Legacy Award, 2023 ACEL Education Leader of the Year, and the 2019 National Latinx Superintendent of the Year, among other distinguished honors.
To learn more about Dr. Hightower, please visit www.wesdschools.org/superintendent
The WESD is Hiring!
The WESD is hiring for the 2025-2026 school year! Please join us for our Job Fair on Monday, July 14, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the WESD Administrative Center, located at 4650 W. Sweetwater Ave. We currently have a wide range of job openings in our KidSpace, Nutrition Services and Transportation Departments, as well as, a variety of available teaching positions!
Our District offers competitive teacher salaries of $53,000-$84,950 with performance pay, student loan forgiveness, school-age child care discounts, medical, dental and vision benefits, and employer-matched contributions to Arizona State Retirement. The WESD also provides the most support for teachers including instructional coaches on every campus, weekly Professional Learning Communities (PLC), regular professional development and social workers on each campus.
For questions, please call 602-347-2622. To view our job vacancies and apply online, please visit jobs.wesdschools.org/. We look forward to meeting you at our job fair!
WESD Extends Summer Meals
The WESD is proud to share that free summer meals will be extended through July! From June 20 to July 25, free breakfast and lunch meals for all children and teenagers up to 18 years old will be available Monday through Friday at seven different locations. Due to Independence Day, meals will not be served on Friday, July 4. No application or registration is needed. All meals must be consumed on-site. Adult meals will also be offered at a cost.
Please see the images for specific dates and times for each location. For more information, please contact the WESD Nutrition Services Department at 602-896-5235.
WESD Enrolling Kindergarten Students for 25-26 School Year
The WESD is now enrolling kindergartners for the 2025-2026 school year! Available at 27 locations, our free, full-day kindergarten program offers a developmentally appropriate and research-based curriculum that addresses reading, writing and math in a caring and welcoming environment with kind and patient teachers! In the WESD, kindergarten also fosters a joy of learning through engaging activities and instills creativity and social skills in each child. All locations offer free breakfast and lunch, as well!
Children turning five before September 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll. Please share this information with your family, friends and neighbors who have a soon-to-be kindergartner! Beat the rush and simply enroll online by visiting www.wesdschools.org/kindergarten. We look forward to meeting the future class of 2038!
News From Glendale Union High School District
GUHSD Wishes Everyone a Great Summer!
Interested in serving on Phoenix's Boards and Commissions?
The City of Phoenix Lockbox Program allows firefighters to gain entry to your home in case of emergency without causing any damage to your residence. This is done by utilizing a key that you provide in a secure lockbox attached to your entryway. This program not only provides free lockboxes to those vulnerable Phoenix residents; it also allows those who already have their own lockbox in place to register their lockbox code with the fire department.
The City of Phoenix is ready to launch the community survey. This survey asks questions on a wide range of topics around life in our community, from what residents think is working, to where they see a need for improvement, providing feedback that is used to calculate ongoing satisfaction scores. The survey is one more way to gather information from residents in our effort to more holistically understand neighborhood issues and enhance our responsiveness to community priorities. 
