Heritage Academy is considering bringing a K-5 school to Maricopa. [file photo]
Murray Siegel

By Murray Siegel

Heritage Academy presents an interesting perspective on providing an excellent education.

The charter school covers grades six through 11; grade 12 will be added for the 2020-21 school year. The schedule uses a four-day, alternating-day block schedule, with 90-minute classes. Students attend four classes on Mondays and Wednesday and have four different classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The 90-minute classes allow for learning activities such as role-playing and student presentations. Science teachers have sufficient time to complete real labs. Students can “do” science rather than simply read or hear about science.

The school’s focus is primarily on college prep, but help is available for students considering military service or vocational education following high school graduation. Block scheduling helps students, no matter their post-secondary plans, develop a greater sense of time management.

The school program is based on American history. Students take a citizenship class, which not only teaches about what it means to be an American citizen, but students also take on responsibilities in the school community, such as cleaning the lunchroom after lunch.

One of the school’s goals is to produce productive citizens. Ten hours of community service and two hours of serving one’s family is required each year of every student. English classes are based on great fiction, with two novels assigned each semester.

Heritage Maricopa’s math teachers supplement their lessons with “Big Ideas” textbooks, which are accessible online for student and parent convenience. Heritage Academy is coordinating with Central Arizona College to offer dual-enrollment classes, taught by qualified high school teachers for college credit from CAC.

Originally from Ohio, Principal Kimberly Ellsworth received her undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University and has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. She began her career as a junior high school English teacher at a charter school and rose to become the principal at the Heritage Academy in Laveen prior to being assigned to open the Maricopa campus.

Ellsworth takes great pride in what Heritage Academy offers its student body and faculty. She sees her school being a major contributor to the success of Maricopa by graduating well-prepared and highly responsible citizens.

Murray Siegel, Ph.D., has 44 years of experience teaching mathematics. He is a volunteer at Butterfield Elementary School.