• Read more about ASU Prep Poly STEM Academy tied for top spot in Arizona school ratings

The ASU Prep Poly STEM Academy in Mesa tied for the top spot in Arizona school ratings for 2017, based on the final letter grades and scores recently released by the state Department of Education.

The K-4 charter school, located on ASU’s Polytechnic campus, and Ocotillo Ridge Elementary School in Pinal County tied for the highest percentage in scoring based on a formula that weighs proficiency in the AzMERIT standardized tests, as well as improvement in scores of some subgroups of students, and other factors, such as absenteeism.

• Read more about A mother follows in her daughter's footsteps

• Read more about A non-traditional student embraces tradition

Bobbi Doherty is not your typical ASU graduate. She was in her 40s when she decided to switch her career path and turn to education. In addition to her roles of wife and mother, Doherty has managed to complete her coursework, student teaching and the necessary Arizona educator certifications. Most recently, she secured a job at a local school district while maintaining a GPA to qualify her to graduate summa cum laude.

• Read more about A combination of passions gives student her dream

Chelsey Sands taught special education for five years, in Tucson. An active and healthy lifestyle has always been important to Sands, so it made sense to combine her two passions. She returned to ASU to pursue a degree in physical education.

• Read more about A combination of passions gives student her dream

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles for spring 2018 commencement. 

Chelsey Sands taught special education for five years in Tucson. An active and healthy lifestyle has always been important to Sands, so it made sense to combine her two passions, and she returned to Arizona State University to pursue a master's degree in physical education.

• Read more about Education student takes kindness to a whole new level

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles for spring 2018 commencement. 

Ana Contreras immigrated to Phoenix from Mexico with her family when she was three years old. One of her first memories she has is of the Head Start program and the kind teachers she had.

• Read more about Born into teaching, compelled by music

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles for spring 2018 commencement. 

Lora Eger never questioned what she wanted to do with her life: “I was born into teaching. Both of my parents are teachers, and I have known nothing less.”

• Read more about Born into teaching, compelled by music

Lora Eger never questioned what she wanted to do with her life: “I was born into teaching. Both of my parents are teachers and that’s all I know.” Eger grew up in a small town in Mesa and is now student teaching at a charter school in the same area. She teaches 7th-grade math and has signed a contract to teach at the school next year.

Along with teaching, Eger enjoys music. She grew up going to ASU football games and dreaming about being in the Sun Devil marching band. Eger promised herself she would be on that field — and she did just that.

• Read more about Education student takes kindness to a whole new level

Ana Contreras immigrated to Phoenix, Arizona from Mexico with her family when she was three years old. One of her first memories is of Head Start and the kind teachers she had — that kindness continued throughout her education. Contreras says her family didn’t have the means to buy her nice things like some of her classmates had, but her teachers made her feel special. “Whenever I thought about teaching, I thought about kind people,” she says.

• Read more about ASU's Greenes receives 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award

Carole Greenes has been honored with the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).