Sierra School of Peoria

Sierra School of Peoria is a special education school that provides a comprehensive and individualized learning experience for students with various disabilities. The school's educational approach is centered around empowering students to implement resiliency skills, coupled with a structured environment of positive behavior management. The Resiliency Based Positive Behavior Management Program combines two approaches that are strength-based and focus on bringing about behavioral and emotional changes in children and young adults. This program establishes a foundation for immediate behavioral changes while building qualities for long-term success, utilizing seven core resiliency factors: initiative, creativity, humor, morality, insight, relationships, and independence. The school's curriculum is aligned with Arizona's College and Career Ready Standards, incorporating daily lesson plans for instruction based on grade-specific curriculum and the goals identified in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). The school focuses on key areas — academics, behavior modifications, support services, and transition/life planning services — to meet individual student needs through varied approaches to instruction. Sierra School of Peoria offers various programs and features, including job shadowing and coaching, vocational tracks, and a coffee cart where students can practice customer service skills. The school also provides practice sessions for students before they start looking for jobs and accommodates last-minute practices and rehearsals. The school has a team with experience in education, including working with students with various disabilities, and employs certified special education teachers, counselors, and contracted service providers for speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. The school's unique characteristics include its focus on providing students with hands-on experience and real-life scenarios to improve their skills, making it a unique and practical educational approach.