SIERRA VISTA — Intent on supporting the needs of children and young people with disabilities in the community, local nonprofit Premier Alliances, Inc. has donated $8,171 to enhance the Exceptional Student Services program at the Sierra Vista Unified School District.
As unveiled at the SVUSD Governing Board meeting on Feb. 6, the donation was used to purchase an assortment of equipment, including computers, reading and writing materials, educational games, sensory stimulation items like kinetic sand, and more, all selected by the teachers themselves as items needed to reinforce their efforts in the classroom. The items will go to nearly 20 different educators across each of the district’s eight schools.
“We understand that education plays a foundational role in preparing children and young people for happy, successful lives, and we want to support our local educators who teach those with additional needs,” said John Charley, CEO of Premier Alliances, adding that the 501(c)(3) was also planning on making similar donations to other school districts in the future.
Doris Lagos, a special education teacher at Buena High School, received several e-readers with the funds from the donation, which she said will greatly benefit her students.
“This will allow my students to read at their own pace, to progress at their own pace,” Lagos said. “I’m ecstatic to have this opportunity now.”
Joyce Clark Middle School teacher Cassandra Sullivan said that receiving reading curriculum materials for her class “was like Christmas,” and will allow her to replace badly damaged materials currently in use. “The books we have now are old and falling apart. With these, we can create specialized instructions for each student.”
Sierra Vista Unified School District Superintendent Kriss Hagerl said, “We are very grateful for the financial support and partnership we have with Premier Alliances, as our common focus is to provide enhanced educational opportunities for our exceptional students.”
Founded in Bisbee, Arizona in 1962, Premier Alliances, Inc. served both adults and children through educational and vocational programs, becoming the Cochise County Association for the Handicapped in 1975 and was later renamed to Premier Alliances. Today, it continue to provide employment and life skills development opportunities for individuals with disabilities with operations at the Fort Huachuca Army Installation, the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station, and at Print and Stitch, its custom print and embroidery business.
