Leading Edge Academy Maricopa Assistant Principal Rachele Reese was honored on Sept. 18 by the City of Maricopa.

Reese was chosen as the Maricopa Latin Heritage Person of the Year. This is a distinguished honor presented yearly as a part of the City of Maricopa’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage month.

An assistant principal at Leading Edge Academy Maricopa since 2016, Reese has been an integral part, along with Principal Mat Reese, in orchestrating the growth of Leading Edge Academy Maricopa to 750 students. Additionally, during her time at Leading Edge Academy Maricopa, the campus has consistently scored above the state average in ELA and Math on state testing.

Reese expressed pride in receiving the award, saying, “I feel honored to be recognized for my contribution to our city, especially when there are so many people that contribute in so many other ways. It is great to be recognized for doing a job that you enjoy doing every day. I love working with students and empowering them to dream big and follow their dreams. My hope is that Latino and minority students can always see me as a role model and get inspired in becoming leaders for their communities.”