Pensar Academy

Pensar Academy exists to develop in middle school students the essential skills to be agents of change in a 21st century global society. These essential skills are the 4 C's: CRITICALLY THINKING about problems from multiple perspectives, CREATING solutions, COMMUNICATING with purpose and production, and COLLABORATING successfully with others to complete a goal. At Pensar Academy, we believe that these 4C's are absolutely necessary for any person in any profession to be successful.

Started by 2 local teachers, the vision for Pensar Academy was a school that provided a "made to order" educational menu for students driven by needs and interests. The founders, Patricia Paddock and Sandra Zupetz, felt that it was possible to provide students with this "made to order" experience through a blended learning model of direct instruction, online learning, and project based learning. They were told by many that the "buffet" style of learning was the only thing that could work in our community. They were told that there was no way that 2 teachers could run a school and would close after one year. Regardless, they set a goal to become the most successful school in the downtown Glendale area. In its first year of operation, the students of Pensar Academy worked diligently and became the first A rated school in the community!

Looking to reach more students, Pensar Academy moved into a larger facility and tripled in size over the next few years. A "family atmosphere", the school culture at Pensar is strong:

* Over 90% of Pensar Academy students re-enroll annually.
* Over 95% of the staff members are retained annually.
* Parent satisfaction is above 90% in every area surveyed.
* Advanced Math and ELA programs have been built.
* The Project Based Learning Model is gaining statewide interest.

Hyper focused direct instruction and individualized education are a given at Pensar. However, when asked, most Pensar Academy students will state that it is the Project Based Learning (PBL) that gives their schoolwork purpose and gets them most excited for learning each day. In a nutshell, PBL is giving students real world challenges or scenarios and then guiding them through the steps to manage a project from inception to completion. Here are some examples of what PBL can look like:

* Re-purposing old items into lamps using the Scientific Method and knowledge of Circuitry and sold at an auction.
* Creating a Rube Goldberg Machine that exemplifies the Laws of Motion via Sir Isaac Newton.
* Creating a Natural Soap and Candle Company using Economic Principles and Persuasion Techniques and sell those items at a local farmer's market.
* Creating a fantasy basketball league and running that league utilizing the Scientific Method and some basic math skills.
* Creating a mini-golf course using Measurement, Conversions, Physics, and Themes.

Each of these projects is not conceptual, they were actual projects completed by our students! Each project was tackled by one grade level in grades 4-8. (Which is which? Lamps-4th Grade, Rube Goldberg-8th Grade, Golf Course-6th Grade, Fantasy Basketball-7th Grade, Farmer's Market-5th Grade)

When constructing this write-up for Arizona Gives, Pensar Academy did not want to use things outside of our control as driving reasons for funding, for example:
* Pensar Academy is a Title I school with a 97% free and reduced lunch rate.
* Most of Pensar's students come in the door academically behind in math and reading.
* Most of Pensar's students have been recruited by going door to door in hard to reach neighborhoods and are bused into school.
* Over half of Pensar's families identify a language other than English as the primary source of communication.
* Less than 12% of families in our targeted enrollment areas have a person in the family with a college degree.

Instead, Pensar Academy would like to ask for your consideration for funding based on what we can control, those 7 hours a day when we have students on our campus for learning. Every cent of the monies raised through AZ Gives will go into the purchase of supplies for Project Based Learning driven by student interests and needs! Made to order!