The award-winning principal of the Prescott Lakes Parkway School (formerly known as Yavapai County Juvenile Detention School), continues garnering recognitions.
Marvy McNeese was honored by the Arizona Correctional Educators (ACE) this summer for her successful efforts in increasing educational funding for students in short-term juvenile detention environments.
Eva Dong, ACE President, presented McNeese with a crystal trophy during ceremonies at the ACE symposium in Scottsdale.
Because of McNeese’s efforts, a legislative initiative to increase funding resulted in the revision of outdated funding formulae. She testified in front the Arizona House and Senate Education committees about Senate Bill 1104. The result was an amendment to Arizona Revised State 15-913 that relates to school finance at six juvenile detention center education programs.
Without those funds, students would have been denied critical services.
Earlier this year, she was honored by the Arizona Department of Education for her strong support of juveniles who have special needs while in secure care.
McNeese’s school is an extension of the Yavapai County Education Service Agency, which is under the authority of Tim Carter, School Superintendent for Yavapai County.
McNeese is a strong advocate for Kids at Hope. In fact, near her office at the Prescott Parkway facility, she had an inspirational message painted prominently on the wall: “I am a Kid at Hope. I am talented, smart and capable of success. I have dreams for the future, and I will climb to reach those goals and dreams every day. All children are capable of success. No exception.”
Her school is considered a model education program throughout Arizona.
The holder of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University, McNeese is certified as a K-12 principal and superintendent.
McNeese laughs about her name – Marvy. She swears it is not because of anything she has done in her career.
“When I was born in Long Beach, my dad had already decided he wanted a girl, and if they had one, she was going to be ‘Marvelous.’ Hence, Marvy.”
One of her colleagues recently commented, “Know what? Her name is the perfect descriptor.”
