About Us

MISSION 

At Ronald Reagan Elementary School, we cultivate a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where every child is empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. 

 

VISION

We are committed to nurturing each child’s unique potential, fostering a love for learning, and embracing the diversity that enriches our school community. We recognize that learners today make the leaders of tomorrow. 

 

Ronald Reagan Fundamental School first began as a pilot project and “alternative” or “magnet” school within the Crane Elementary School District. The pilot project began in the school year of 1983-84, with principal, Barry Sutter. The program consisted of only six classrooms, first through sixth grade, and was housed on the east side of the H.L. Suverkrup campus. The following year, Scott Jackson became the principal when the permanent building on 16th Street was opened.

 

The magnet school concept for a “Back to Basics” curriculum was the vision and concept supported and promoted by the administration. The program was modeled after an alternative school in Mesa, called Ben Franklin. A team of parents, teachers, and administrators toured several magnet programs throughout Arizona and California to develop their own philosophy and curriculum.

 

The pilot program curriculum was basic, fundamental, and clearly defined. The teachers were to follow the Spalding reading, writing, and spelling method precisely, read good literature with the students, study American history, drill the basic math facts, focus on recitation of poetry, and regularly attend the flag raising ceremonies each Friday after regularly practicing patriotic songs. A strict dress code was enforced. These practices were continued when the permanent facility opened. During the first two years, students and teachers ate lunch together in the classrooms after recess, without chocolate milk being allowed. After the second year in the new facility, the students ate in the cafeteria but needed to bring their own lunches. The teachers were scheduled to have “blocked planning” time, to allow for collaboration, and the beginning of each school year started with teachers making “home visits” of every family on their class list. The last year of home visits were paid for by the RRFS PTA because of district budget constraints.

 

Parental involvement was expected and encouraged. In order for parents to enroll their children in the program, they needed to sign a parental agreement each year to demonstrate their understanding and support of the curriculum, roles, and philosophy which were established. As another way of demonstrating their support of the school, the parents were required to provide their own transportation for their children to and from school. An after school enrichment program, run entirely by parents, was established in 1984 but was difficult to maintain over the years.

 

As the years passed, many changes occurred at Ronald Reagan Fundamental School. A satellite lunch program was soon established to offer students the same variety that was available in other Crane Schools, the flag raising ceremonies have moved from the outside to the inside, students have been given recesses, special education and counseling services have been provided and become an integral part of the program, home visits have been discontinued due to budget constraints, and instruction has become more consistent with the research about effective schools.

 

The school and philosophy are now well established in the community with broad parental support.

 

The Jennifer Wilson Track, which is located behind Ronald Reagan School, exists as a memorial for Jennifer Wilson, a former student who was brutally murdered in Flagstaff in the summer of 1988.

 

Through a combination of local general obligation bond funds and state funding, an additional six classrooms were added to the facility in 1999. This permitted Reagan School to leave the multi- track calendar.

 

In the 21st Century many changes have occurred. Thomas Fletcher became principal in 2007. He implemented Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) and Whole Brain Teaching Strategies for Classroom Management to support our school’s motto “Learners today, make leaders tomorrow.” He also brought back block planning for teachers to allow for additional teacher collaboration time. In order to prepare our students for a liberal arts college education and make them a well rounded student; he brought a focus on the Fine Arts including; music, art, P.E. and technology literacy. Which continues to be a focus to enrich our students' learning.

 

Reagan had been a part of the Reading First movement, until federal funding ended. As a part of the Reading First funding, Reagan was able to implement Write Up a Storm, and was recognized by the state for significant growth in achievement in one year. The new grant opportunities were sought to continue the legacy of the schools high expectations of quality, research based academic content and instructional practices. This allowed teachers to use social studies and science content to teach reading concepts. State grants in the content area of math and Exceptional Student Services were awarded to Reagan. Currently, we continue to be a part of the Examining Data to Improve Student Achievement Grant (EDISA).

 

In 2011, Chromebooks were purchased for the school through PTO and school funding. PTO’s support was ongoing with the purchase and installation of WiFi in 2014 allowing Chromebooks to travel to classrooms on cart (Computers On Wheels).

 

Grant opportunities continued as the school became a recipient of President Obama’s ConnectEd initiative through Apple receiving 1:1 devices for students, and providing teachers with Apple devices and professional development. The ongoing integration of technology and the movement towards 21st Century Learning had transformed Ronald Reagan into the school it is today.