White Elementary School

Aryan Flores has been at White Elementary School for 8 years as a parent, during which time she has been very involved in the school. In her role as PTO president, she helps organize fundraising events that bring families and the community together, including the annual end-of-year luau. 

She says the friendly staff, diversity and different programs – including dual language and mariachi/folklorico – help make White a vibrant, welcoming learning environment.

Ms. Miranda and Mrs. Snider make up the friendly, welcoming team of school counselors at White. Every week, they spend time in classrooms delivering lessons on various topics to support students' social emotional and academic learning. They also work with students in small groups and one-on-one settings, and can give referrals to outside counseling. 

In their time working with students, Ms. Miranda and Mrs. Snider say they see their conversations foster a greater sense of community, help students develop self-regulation skills, and build a positive connection with an adult. 

Mr. Mark is a dual language kindergarten teacher, and also leads the mariachi and folklorico program. Though he doesn't have a background in music, he was encouraged by Davis Bilingual Magnet Elementary School's longtime mariachi teacher, Dr. Alfredo Valenzuela (Dr. V), to start a mariachi program at White. Mr. Mark now has former students come back to help him teach!

He says he sees many students return year after year, and the program helps build a connection between the school and the community, as students perform in various events around Tucson.