Alyssa Gonzales has been named Principal of Palm Academy, a K-8 public school of choice in the Springs Charter Schools network which serves 60 students in the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area. She has 15 years of experience working in charter schools, and first started with Springs as teacher for Palm Academy in 2013.
“I’m excited about this new leadership opportunity and I’m looking forward to an outstanding 2014-15 school year,” remarked Gonzales. “We’ve done much to enhance our school programs, and I’m confident we’ll be able to provide our students with an excellent education.”
Gonzales believes Palm Academy’s strengths to include project-based learning, incorporation of community events and field trips to enhance the school’s curriculum, arts integration, small class sizes, and “family environment.”
She continued, “What appeals to me about working for Springs is the personalized learning approach that engages all learners. There are different ways of acquiring knowledge; Springs understand that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to education.”
She noted that Palm Academy had adopted the Lucy Calkins literacy program, an effective way for students to master reading and writing. The school has been proactive about maintaining a safe environment, she said; staff members recently completed the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. She remarked, “Bullying is a problem in many schools, and we’re serious about not letting it get started here.”
