Four Years of Partnership at Sierra School at Pendergast

Four years ago, Sierra School at Pendergast began as a new partnership with the Pendergast Elementary School District. Today, the program is firmly woven into daily life at Sonoran Sky Elementary School, where Sierra students learn and participate alongside their general education peers.

Joselin Ortiz, director at Sierra School at Pendergast, said the early years involved navigating challenges and learning what worked.

“Our initial goal was just to create an environment where kids could thrive,” Ortiz said.

Growth at Sierra School at Pendergast

Since then, the program has seen progress both academically and behaviorally. By its third year, the majority of students were proficient on academic benchmarks.

Consistent behavioral supports and strong relationships with students have also helped reduce disruptions and create greater consistency throughout the school day.

The staff has grown along with the program. Veteran team members have transitioned into more independent leadership roles and now help mentor newer colleagues. Ortiz has known some of them since she was a classroom teacher, making their growth especially rewarding to watch.

“I really enjoy watching my staff grow year to year,” Ortiz said. “Seeing them be more independent this year where I’m not so much on them is a really great thing.”

Building Inclusion Across the School Community

That growth has happened alongside a broader integration of Sierra students and staff into the Sonoran Sky community.

Team members like Allison Zazauta work closely with general education teachers and help plan events for families. Coach Creshon Lusk also makes sure Sierra students feel part of the excitement around school sports.

Students join their peers during lunch, art, physical education, and select academic classes. They also take part in extracurricular activities, including an e-sports club where students compete in racing games. Music and choir clubs and school dances provide additional opportunities to participate.

The close relationship between Ortiz and Sonoran Sky Principal Heidi Alexander has also become an important part of the partnership. The two communicate regularly, address challenges together and stay closely aligned on what students and staff need.

Alexander said that sense of belonging is now evident across the school.

“The presence of the Sierra students has created an environment where all of our kiddos, without even speaking to them directly, know that Team Sierra is a part of Team Sonoran, and they’re here to help,” Alexander said.

“It’s that atmosphere of everyone gets what they need, and that looks very different. This is how the world works.”

Strengthening Connections With Families

Communication with families has strengthened as well. Ortiz said more proactive outreach, including the use of digital tools, has made it easier to connect with working parents and guardians.

“The more we communicated with parents, the more they became more involved,” she said.

The school also works to make information accessible to its Spanish-speaking families. Report cards, newsletters and IEP documents are available in Spanish, and campus milestones are shared in both languages.

Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter

As the partnership enters its fourth year, Sierra and district leaders are looking for additional ways to share expertise across the campus.

Plans are underway to include the Sierra team in schoolwide Multi-Tiered System of Supports discussions and professional development. These efforts will create more opportunities for educators to learn from one another.

For other districts exploring a similar model, Alexander advises educators to remain open to new approaches.

“Be open to new models. Do not approach this with a traditional mindset,” she said. “Try to put away any assumptions about specialized groupings on campus, what they can and cannot do, and work through that with the other lead to make the best experience for all students.”

Ortiz sees the program’s fourth year as an opportunity to appreciate how much has changed since those early days.

“In those first days and weeks, we worked hard to build relationships and make this a safe, fun place to be,” she said. “Years one and two brought plenty of challenges as we figured out what we needed from the district, but seeing the kids succeed, both academically and behaviorally, makes it all worth it.”

Sierra School at Pendergast is an in-district program serving students across the Pendergast Elementary School District. Based at Sonoran Sky Elementary School, the K-8 program supports students with significant behavioral and social-emotional needs. The goal is to help students successfully transition back into general education.