Description: These words of our mission statement, " Learning for Life, Loving to Learn " best describe the children at Desert Willow Elementary School in Cave Creek, Arizona. A community of happy, loving learners was established in 1999 when our school was built and opened in the Tatum Ranch neighborhood, a planned and rapidly changing community in the northeast area of Phoenix. The neighborhood is approximately 20 years old, and is nestled in the foothills of the Tonto National Forest. The Desert Willow community, a pre-K through 6th grade school, is built on only 8 acres and thus incorporates a cluster of two story buildings situated closely together. The beautiful campus is designed in a natural, meandering manner with all sidewalks leading to our library, situated in the center of the school. The spirit of Desert Willow is robust and visible throughout our campus. Our mascot is the roadrunner. Our school song, "I Want to be a Roadrunner" was written by native songwriter Patty Horn, and is sung with gusto by our students. Daily morning activities begin with morning announcements with affirmations of individual achievements, a moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a really corny joke from Mr. Hill. Visits to classrooms will find high levels of activity and engagement. Experiential learning is manifest at the Willow. Students are comfortable in their environment and are challenged to learn. Our library is the focal point of our campus and provides ample evidence of Desert Willow being known as "The Reading School." Kindergarten through 2nd grade roadrunners attend Sing and Read on Friday mornings, where they practice reading by singing classic children's songs accompanied by a musical leader. Book fairs, Read-a-Thons, Pajama Reads, Accelerated Reader, and Author's Teas are just a few of the engaging reading activities that help our students attain reading success.
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns, as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Inspection # | Inspection Date | Inspection Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| INSP-0137146 | 2025-08-12 | Compliance (Annual) | Complete |
| Initial Comments: The following deficiencies were observed at the time of the annual inspection conducted 08.12.25, and are subject to changes pending programmatic review. The Compliance Officer provided a paper copy of the Notice of Inspection Rights and the Small Bill of Rights to the facility director at the time of the inspection. A link to the Empower Self-Evaluation was sent to the facility director. The Emergency Disaster Plan update form was completed at the time of the inspection. Three fingerprint clearance cards reviewed were verified as valid through the DPS website. Please submit the Plan of Corrections via the LMS portal within 10 days of receipt of the Statement of Deficiencies. The following was discussed, but not limited to: *Ensure Emergency contact cards are complete. *Ensure the emergency map shows the evacuation path. *Ensure staff trainings are complete. *Ensure First Aid Kit contains sterile gauze rolls. *Ensure extension cords are removed from the cafeteria when children are present. *Ensure calcium build-up is removed from the drinking fountain. *Ensure toys are maintained in a clean condition. | |||
| INSP-0046859 | 2024-08-14 | Compliance (Annual) | Complete |
| Initial Comments: The following deficiencies were found at the time of the Compliance Inspection conducted on 8/14/2024, and are subject to changes pending programmatic review. Name of Compliance Officer: Stacy Marchelli Name of Compliance Officer #2 Chloe-James Rossi The Plan of Corrections is required to be submitted through the Licensing Portal within 10 days of the receipt of the Statement of Deficiencies. The following was discussed, but is not limited to: *Room usage updates and application processes, *Bathroom hazards. There were 5 staff files reviewed. 5 of the 5 fingerprint clearance cards were verified to be valid through the DPS website. The Empower Assessment was completed at the time of the inspection. | |||
| INSP-0031255 | 2023-08-23 | Compliance (Annual) | Complete |
| Initial Comments: The following deficiencies were observed at the time of the Compliance inspection conducted on 8/23/2023 and are subject to changes pending programmatic review. Please submit the Written Documentation of Corrections within 10 days of receipt of this Statement of Deficiencies. 4 of 4 Fingerprint clearance cards reviewed were valid via a DPS website search. The Empower Survey was completed online at the time of the inspection. Compliance Officer: Archana Navin | |||
| INSP-0030045 | 2023-07-26 | Modification | Complete |
| Initial Comments: The following deficiencies were observed at the time of the Modification inspection conducted on 7/26/2023 and are subject to changes pending programmatic review. Please submit the Written Documentation of Corrections within 10 days of receipt of this Statement of Deficiencies. A full inspection was not conducted. Compliance Officer: Archana Navin | |||
If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.
Be the first to review this childcare provider. Write a review about C.C.U.S.D.#93 - DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY. Let other families know what’s great, or what could be improved. Please read our brief review guidelines to make your review as helpful as possible.
Connect, Seek Advice, Share Knowledge
