About Us

About Us

Founded in 2019, Rockwood Preparatory Academy is an Arizona private school like no other. That’s because Rockwood Prep is not a traditional public school. Instead, we go beyond the norm to provide at-risk children with learning disabilities a safe place to land… and learn.

Our high-performing school offers alternative learning, ABA, PT/OT, and speech therapies. Also, we help families with special needs children to navigate the financial and regulatory maze that they often face.

Additionally, Rockwood Prep children (affectionately known as Rockers) are immersed in other learning modalities like cooking classes, engineering classes, karate, and our Happy Campers Summer Camp, plus other My Turn® programs and alternative learning classes.

Our greatest accomplishment is reading the many letters and emails from students and parents thanking us for making a difference in their lives.

Awesome school and wonderful staff! Everyone is such a blessing there and we are thankful for all they do to enrich my grandson’s life! My grandson loves going there every day and is excited to go!
Dawn B.

What We Do

Rockwood Preparatory Academy provides education and therapies to all levels within our special needs community. Our responsibility not only lies with our students but is also extended to all individuals with learning disabilities and developmental delayed attributes. That’s why we make available to the special needs community, critical therapies, social and behavioral skills groups, and other enriching activities.

Our signature My Turn® programs and modalities greatly enhance the overall development of children with special needs in a positive, joyful environment. We like to say that we turn impossibilities into possibilities!

Students, ages 3-18 attending Rockwood Prep spend part of their day setting and achieving academic goals, while learning how to adapt and thrive with their unique set of social, behavioral, and educational challenges. The second part of the school day includes fun and innovative activities and therapies with tangible wins and successes.

What Sets Us Apart

• Small Class Size
• Individualized Curriculum
• Dyslexia Reading Specialists
• Class Placement by Ability
• Integrative, Therapy-Based Enrichment Electives
• Social Skills Group / Leader in Training Program
• Peer Mentoring Group
• Flexible Transportation Assistance
• Invested Teachers and Mentors

Our Mission

Our mission is to create a standard of excellence in education, therapies, family support and advocacy for our learning-disabled students and to offer innovative strategies and programs to the special needs community.

Our Vision

We see ourselves as the go-to epicenter of educational, therapeutic, and community resources for families and individuals living with special needs. The future of children with disabilities must change to better provide inclusiveness, advocacy, educational support, and work transition success. Our vision is to coach, mentor, and assist these remarkable children so that they grow into thriving, functioning, and fulfilled adult community members.

Our Values

Student Comes First!

Our belief is that every child can, and wants to, learn. Our role is to give them the right educational tools, mentorship, and relevant teaching strategies.

Courage and Integrity

The curriculum at Rockwood incorporates character development to give students the courage to stand up, speak up, and do the right thing.

Diversity, Creativity, and Independence

Our philosophy is that we, as teachers and educators, must never stop learning, growing, and innovating. We owe it to our students to consistently deliver teaching opportunities that help them understand the value of diversity, creativity, and independence.

Community Advocacy and Awareness

We can’t do this alone. That’s why we strive to build relationships with our neighbors and in the business community. These children need, and deserve, your acceptance and support.

Inclusiveness

Most children with special needs feel alone, when all they really want is to be included. They may speak differently, process information differently, and may look different. At Rockwood Prep, we look for every opportunity to help our students experience integration and inclusion in every day, mainstream activities through extra services like speech, physical, and occupational therapies.

Parent School Partnership for Success

We recognize the pivotal role that a family plays in their child’s academic and social development. That’s why we consistently inform and engage parents in the learning process of their child.

Professionalism and Credentialed Employees

Our teachers and educators have degrees and select credentials in the following areas: educational assessments, inclusive schooling, differentiating instruction, data-based decision-making and positive behavior supports, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, speech/ language impairments and moderate to severe disabilities.

Why Parents Trust Us

Rockwood Prep parents know that we base the successful education of their learning-disabled child on not only a plan, but with real mentorship, and on these important pillars. They are Transparency, Respect, Trust, and Communication.

Transparency

We believe in, and embrace, a culture of transparency. Some personnel issues, student privacy issues, medical situations, and security issues must remain confidential by law, otherwise, our offices, phones, and records are always open.

Respect

We teach, and practice, respect for our students, their families, and each other. Collaboratively, we choose to further a “respectful learning environment” at Rockwood Prep.

Trust

Trust is a core value at our school. We grow trust among our children, parents, and each other by adhering to complete honesty in our communications and actions.

Communication

Using active listening as our guiding light, we create a safe and supportive place for expressing thoughts and ideas.

Our Rockstar Leadership

Our team is available to assist you in determining the right educational fit for your child. We seek out and hire the very best in behavioral, teaching, mentoring, and support staff at Rockwood Prep. Contact us 480-530-0886 to learn more about our stellar staff and education for all abilities!

Our Staff Standard of Excellence

Teachers | Educators

Lead teachers are highly qualified with years of classroom experience and/or varying levels of degrees and SPED certifications. Teachers are provided ongoing training from our leadership team as Dyslexia and Behavioral training by certified and accredited BCBA.

Instructional Classroom Aides

Instructional aides are trained in the principals of Applied Behavior Analysis and are presented with formal training from our Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). They are trained in the areas of classroom management, appropriate behavior support and child development/psychology.

Support Staff

All staff are required to have a Level 1 background check, Article 9 training, and CPR First Aid Certificate. ALL staff are required to participate in on-going development and leadership training that they chose depending upon their career goal