Community
The Flowing Wells community and school district share a symbiotic relationship. The district is geographically small, spanning 13 square miles along Interstate 10 on the west side of the Tucson metro region. The small footprint and the one-time rural setting contributed to a tight-knit community-oriented approach to education, with Flowing Wells school buildings serving as anchors in the local neighborhoods. This strong tradition of community support continues to permeate the Flowing Wells District, even as the population has grown and the region has shifted from rural to urban.
Now, with The University of Arizona a few miles to the south and Interstate 10 running through the District, Flowing Wells sits squarely in the vibrant urban core of Tucson. This urbanization is readily apparent when traveling through the district: neighborhoods are bracketed by thoroughfares lined with small businesses focusing on automotive repair, construction, family owned restaurants, thrift stores, parks, and worship centers. As the District and community have evolved, the Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association has emerged as a leader in the region and has worked diligently to advance important infrastructure projects including Flowing Wells Park, the Flowing Wells Public Library, and the Ellie Towne Community Center, in addition to the installation of street lighting and sidewalks to provide walkways to schools. Throughout the transition from a rural to urban area, the resourceful community has continued to demonstrate strong support for the school district, even in difficult economic times, by approving a 2008 capital bond request, a 2010 budget override, and a 2015 budget override.
In the same way that the Flowing Wells School District embraces the larger community that we serve, we also envision the organization itself as a vibrant community. The District has sustained a strong collaborative culture for decades. Many employees choose to work in Flowing Wells for the same reasons that families choose to enroll their students here: we build trusting relationships, we embrace opportunities to serve, and we strive to keep students and student learning as our focus. Our Governing Board Members model these values; it is rare to attend an event around the district at which at least one Board Member is not present. They are known throughout the community, and students, families, and employees appreciate their support. The same mindset is seen with each school principal; principals know every student by name within the first few days of school and they strive to build positive trusting relationships with parents and employees. We also work deliberately to sustain our organizational culture over time through our hiring practices and our professional development program. Our nationally recognized professional development model begins with New Teacher Induction and continues throughout employees' careers. The expectation of continuous professional learning and growth literally is established on the first day that each new teacher works in the district. Our strong mentoring and coaching programs convey the message to teachers that we value them enough to invest significantly in supporting them and helping them succeed. At each level of our organization, from the classroom to the school to the district, we operate on the belief that students will thrive when they are immersed in an environment of high expectations and strong support and are surrounded by a community of people who work collaboratively to ensure their success.