“Moments in time like this allow for a brief pause – celebrate successes, step back, and reflect on what our entire team has accomplished.”
Julia Meyerson solidified her commitment to education as a Teach For America corps member in the South Bronx, where she taught first grade for two years. Realizing the tremendous impact of state and local policy on transforming education, Meyerson went on to join the Democratic Governors Association in Washington, D.C., where she worked on both the political and finance teams and later served as the organization’s policy director. In this capacity, Meyerson had a unique opportunity to work with innovative governors, business leaders and policy experts on the pressing issues facing state and local government, including education reform.
Meyerson came back to her home state of Arizona to found Vista College Prep, following a year-long fellowship with Building Excellent Schools, a national organization that trains, mentors and supports individuals who seek to found, build, and lead urban public schools of uncompromising excellence. Starting in 2013 with just one campus and 63 students, Vista College Prep is now a network of three schools serving 1,200 students. Nearly 100% of those students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and more than 90% are students of color.
For the last four years, Vista College Prep has dramatically outperformed all schools where more than 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Vista College Prep is modeled after some of the highest-performing public schools across the country and committed to the idea that demographics do not determine destiny and that all students can succeed if they are able to have access to a high-quality education. With an incredible team, Vista College Prep is determined to redefine what is possible in urban education. In 2018, the first year the campus was eligible, Vista College Prep’s Hadley campus was one of five schools in the State of Arizona to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education.
Meyerson is a member of YPO, a graduate of Valley Leadership, and a 40 under 40 honoree. She earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in teaching at Pace University. Meyerson lives in Phoenix with her husband, Peter, and their two children, Greer (three years old) and William (six months old).
Organization Name: Vista College Preparatory
Main Office Address: 812 S. 6th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona
Phone: (602) 374-7159
Website: vistacollegeprep.org
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