Model School Award

Desert Shadows Elementary School has officially earned the prestigious Arizona Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Model School Award! Out of schools across the state, DSES stood out as one of the few to achieve this distinguished honor, marking two consecutive years of receiving this distinction. The Arizona PBIS Coalition Awards recognize schools that demonstrate exemplary implementation and outcomes through school-wide systems of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.

This statewide recognition reflects the incredible dedication of the entire Desert Shadows Elementary community. To qualify for Model School status, DSES submitted for Level 4 distinction and underwent a rigorous evaluation, including a half-day site visit by outside evaluators who observed the school’s Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III systems in action. The evaluators confirmed that DSES’ PBIS framework is robust, effective, and deeply embedded in everyday campus culture.

Congratulations to Principal Cunningham, the dedicated staff, and the Sandshark students for their continuous commitment to fostering a positive, proactive, and supportive learning environment!