Meet Our Principal

School attendance is not only a good habit, state law requires it. Arizona State Law (15-802.A, 15-803.E) requires every person who has custody of a child between the ages of six and sixteen years shall make sure the child attends school for the full time school is in session unless unable to attend due to illness or another legitimate reason.
 

To encourage and improve school attendance, Park Meadows has implemented a truancy program in partnership with Maricopa County Juvenile Court. This truancy program is called C.U.T.S. (Court Unified Truancy Suppression). We will be tracking attendance very closely. Your child is expected to be at school every day, unless there is an excused reason not to be. An absence is defined as a minimum of one missed class period per day. An unexcused absence will count as a truant day as defined by law. A student is “habitually truant” if he/she has five or more unexcused absences from school. A student that is absent more than ten percent (18 days) of the required number of school days per year is considered to have “excessive absences” whether the absence is excused or unexcused.

When a student has five or more unexcused absences or 18 excessive absences (excused OR unexcused), the student can be cited to the CUTS Program through the Juvenile Court. The hearing will be held on the school campus with representatives from Park Meadows and the Juvenile Court. A parent or legal guardian must be present with the student at the time of the hearing. Consequences at the hearing may include the following: required attendance of the parent and the child at an education class (to be held on Saturdays), work hours assigned to the child, counseling, etc. The parent will be assessed a Diversion fee. Failure to complete these consequences may result in suspension of your child’s driver’s license, or inability to get a driver’s license until their 18th birthday and/or formal court proceedings. It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to ensure their child’s attendance in an approved academic setting. If you fail to take the necessary steps to provide your child with appropriate education you may receive a citation. If convicted, it is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by jail time and/or fine.

The education of your child is extremely important to us. This program is another way that Park Meadows is working with the community to ensure a quality education for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Park Meadows Principal at (623) 445-4104.

The district encourages students to take pride in their attire as it relates to the school setting. Students are to dress in a manner that, in addition to the following guidelines, takes into consideration the educational environment, safety, health, and welfare of self and others.

• Any attire that detracts from the learning environment is not acceptable. Students should dress in a manner that, in addition to the following guidelines, takes into consideration the educational environment, safety, health and welfare of self and others.
• Clothing must cover the entire buttocks. Shirts and tops may not expose bare midriffs, bare shoulders, nor be deeply or narrowly cut in the front, back, or under the arms. Halter tops, spaghetti straps, and strapless tops are not acceptable. Clothing that exposes undergarments will not be tolerated for males or females.
• Bare feet are never acceptable. In the interest of safety, shoes must be worn at all times. Closed shoes are to be worn for any type of physical activity, such as physical education, cheer practice, weight lifting, etc.
• Jewelry or ornamentation shall not be worn if it presents a safety hazard to self and/or others.
• No hats may be worn inside any campus buildings at anytime, except for properly approved occupational safety headgear required for special classes.
• Defamatory writing, obscene language or symbols, or symbols of drugs, sex, or alcohol on clothing or jewelry are expressly prohibited.
• Tattoos displaying defamatory writing, obscene language or symbols, or symbols of drugs, sex, or alcohol must be covered.

Dear Park Meadows Parents and Guardians,

     As the Park Meadows principal, I bring a passion for meeting the needs of all students. My experience as a reading and gifted specialist have prepared me with a focus on all students and a drive to create opportunities for students to reach their full potential.  The Park Meadows Vision and Mission are a perfect match for me, and I am committed to upholding the goals that are established here:

Our Mission: To provide a caring and supportive environment to help students achieve their highest potential.

Our Vision: We are Park. We are prepared to learn. We are accountable for our choices. We are respectful and kind.

     Park Meadows has an exceptional history of academic and behavioral excellence. It is my honor and privilege to have this role and to serve the Park Meadows community. I look forward to working with you as we work together toward our shared vision for an extraordinary year. 

      Please feel free to email me to introduce yourself or attend a Pastries with the Principal event so we can get to know each other! Pastries with the Principal are held one Wednesday a month at 8:30. Check our newsletter or email me for dates. I look forward to working with you!

Respectfully,

Mrs. Kim Lanese

     I have been the principal at Park Meadows since the 2020-21 school year. I’ll tell you a little about myself and my background. I grew up in the beautiful state of Maine but my family moved here to Phoenix just in time for me to attend high school. I graduated from Greenway HS, then traveled around the country for a bit before settling back in Phoenix where I got my bachelor’s degree in education. My teaching career started in the Glendale Elementary District, then I moved to DVUSD in 2007.

     I taught grades 1, 2, 3, and 6, and I have been a reading specialist and a gifted specialist. My journey brought me to the District Office in 2012 as the DVUSD gifted coordinator, then I moved back to campuses as an assistant principal in 2015. During my six years as AP, I was fortunate to spend the last two at Deer Valley Middle School. While teaching, I obtained my master’s degree and am currently finishing my doctorate in organizational leadership. My dissertation is on the capacity to transform school to learning organizations through professional learning communities because I truly believe in the power of collaboration and lifelong learning!

     My husband and I met at the first school where we both taught. He is now a special education teacher in DVUSD. We have three daughters. Two are DVUSD graduates and the third currently attends Mountain Ridge HS. We are a DVUSD family! We love to hike and camp, and we rescue animals. We currently have several pets but most of them live outside (we have chickens, ducks, two dogs, too many cats, desert tortoises, geckos, and a snake).