East Valley superintendent shares major change for students as schools open this week

MESA — Several school districts across the Valley are opening their doors this week to welcome students for the 2025-2026 school year.

One of them is Mesa Public Schools, which has over 50,000 students and 7,000 employees. The district’s new superintendent, Matthew Strom, said that despite its size, teachers ensure lessons are individualized.

“When a parent comes and chooses our schools and they have a teacher that’s making (lessons) individualized for 24 kids in a kindergarten classroom or 18 kids in a kindergarten classroom, it doesn’t feel like a 54,000-student district,” Strom told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “It feels like a district of 18 kids.”

His top priority for the 2025-2026 school year is supporting educators, because when teachers feel empowered, they’re better able to support their students, he added.

The district is also rolling out a new cellphone policy: Students in grades K–8 will be prohibited from using devices during the school day, while high school students may only use phones during designated breaks.

Strom said the goal is to minimize distractions and help students stay focused on learning. Parents will still be able to reach their children by calling the front office.

“You can make a choice to keep it at home,” Strom said. “You can make a choice to send it with your kids, but the kids are going to be asked to keep it in their backpack at the kindergarten through eighth grade level for the vast majority the day.”

What other Valley school districts are starting 2025-2026 school year?

The other districts welcoming students for the new school year this week include:

• Deer Valley Unified School District.
• Dysart Unified School District.
• Fountain Hills Unified School District.
• Peoria Unified School District.
• Phoenix Elementary School District.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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