Pathway Prep’s new principal, Curtis Cardine

Pathway Preparatory Academy is a new school in Maricopa with a new principal, Curtis Cardine.

Cardine brings over 35 years of experience in business and education to Pathway. He holds a Masters degree in Organization and Management from Antioch New England University and a Bachelors degree in Education with a mathematics minor from Salem State College in Salem, Mass.

For the past 10 years he was Director of Sites for Pinnacle Education, a board member and president of TouchSmart Educational Publishing and SAU (School Administrative Unit 38) Superintendent of Schools in New Hampshire (three districts, four high schools and 10 elementary schools with four school boards.) He has taught at the primary, secondary and college levels.

A former Marine and an international competitor in Olympic weightlifting, Cardine is also an avid reader.

“My passion in education is a desire to help teachers and administrators become intentional about their practice,” said Cardine.

As for the upcoming school year, Cardine said there are some primary goals for Pathway Preparatory Academy. “All members of staff will be trained and dedicated to providing a safe, orderly and structured environment that nurtures the children entrusted to us. Supervision and evaluation of staff will be done in a purposeful and intentional manner to ensure that each child’s needs are bring met and that our staff has meaningful and personal growth. Each member of the staff of our school is dedicated to providing an environment that academically nurtures the children.”

Most importantly, “Every child in the Pathway Prep Academy will be known. This simple statement is our promise to get to know children and provide him or her with a program that recognizes their own special qualities and abilities,” said Cardine.

On Aug. 10 classes will begin at 8 a.m. for K-8 students enrolled at Pathway, and the school plans to develop a K-12 curriculum the following year. Plans are also underway for a permanent facility on the grounds in the next two years.

The school has implemented a technology-based communication system between parents and school staff. Parents can review what a child did in class that day and view updated marks and progress trackers as soon as the teacher inputs the grades.

Pathway Prep is also offering something else currently unavailable in the community: assistance with home-schooled children through elective programs, including physical education, arts and lab sciences.

For information call 520-568-9333 or contact Pathway online at [email protected].

Photo by Brandi Stange