Message from the Principal

Welcome to Mount Turnbull Elementary website!

I am honored to work for Mount Turnbull Elementary students, families, staff, and the community of Bylas!  

Mount Turnbull Elementary received a B from the Arizona Department of Education.  This rating can be found on the AZ School Report Cards website.  This is indeed a great accomplishment for a Title I school located in a rural area.  Our students made significant progress in overall academics and state testing.  Our school has been elevated from a C status in 2017 – 2018 school year to a B status in the 2018 – 2019 school year.  Continued support from the parents, staff, and community will help to elevate us to the next level of an “A” school in the very near future.  Family and community involvement is critical for us to reach our goals.  These partnerships are strengths at MTE on which we want to continue to build.

Mount Turnbull Elementary students participate in standards-based, well-planned lessons throughout the day. Teachers use research-based methods and curriculum to provide every child the best education possible.  Mount Turnbull Elementary School offers students a traditional comprehensive education.  Every student at our school is assigned a Chromebook.  We offer computer classes, physical education and Apache language in addition to our core classes – English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.  We are committed to following the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program.  The PBIS recognizes and rewards students for making appropriate choices, and encourages all students to be at their best every day.  

June 1, 2020, Kathy Hoffman, Superintendent of Public Instruction stated, “With input from public health experts and education leaders across our state, we have developed Arizona's Roadmap for Reopening Schools. It provides a series of recommendations for how schools can approach the 2020-2021 school year and offers adaptable considerations to meet each community's unique needs. Given the fluidity of the public health situation, this will be a living document that will be updated based on the most current information.”

A safe and secure learning environment is provided in which high expectations for all students are held.  During this coronavirus outbreak, our teachers and staff have carefully reviewed and set up procedures following the guidelines recommended by Arizona’s Roadmap for Reopening Schools, written in compliance with the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control.  We offer the option of distance learning for parents who choose to keep their children at home and in-person learning for those parents who have entrusted us with their children for in-person learning.  We have been flexible with the changes made to our manner of operation in accordance with county and tribal mandates, and will continue to do whatever is necessary to keep everyone safe.

The student body is comprised of loyal students and school spirit is visible throughout the school year.  Mount Turnbull Elementary is known throughout the area for their small class sizes and individualized academic support for students.  Mount Turnbull Elementary School has come a long way while staying true to the traditional values of our communities.