AMBASSADOR ACADEMY APPLICATION GRIC 2017.PDF

Last updated: 02/28/2017
General information
Organization Ambassador Academy
Contact First name Jennifer
Contact Last name Amsbaugh
Contact e-mail jwagner00@gmail.com
Contact phone number 858-945-7152
Address
Street 3820 E Ray Road #8
City Phoenix
State AZ
ZIP Code 85044
From what tribe is the Gila River Indian Community
organization requesting the
grant?
Total grant amount request 500,000
1 / 2

The Gila River Indian Community offers multi-year awards. If your
organization is requesting a multi-year grant for this project or program
from the Gila River Indian Community, enter the amount to be requested
each year.
Amount
Year 1 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
Year 2 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
Year 3 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
Year 4 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
Year 5 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
2 / 2



Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2017
Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/1/2016 (NOTE: Click or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Denny Barney
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor
5. City: Phoenix State: Arizona Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Melody Henderson Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Ambassador Academy Charter School
8. Is this a 501c non-profit Organization? No Yes If yes, attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Jennifer Amsbaugh Title: Governing Board President
10. Phone Number: 858-945-7152
11. Mailing Address: 3820 E Ray Road #8
12. City: Phoenix State: Arizona Zip Code: 85044
13. Email Address: jwagner00@gmail.com Website Address: http://ambassadoracademy.us/
Project Information
14. Project Name: Save Ambassador Academy
15. Purpose of Grant: To keep the school doors open, pay competitive wages to our teachers and fund
curriculum for the diverse student population
16. Priority Funding Area Education
17. Annual amount requested $500,000
18. Number of years that funding is 1
requested
19. Total amount requested (annual $500,000
amount x number of years)
20. Has your organization received past No
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year
and amount
21. Geographic area served Ahwatukee/Phoenix
For Office Use Only:
Data Entry Receipt Evaluation
Outcome  Approval Recommended/Amount $  Denial

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2017
Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative
in paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe the organization’s history, mission and goals.
Ambassador Acadmey is a small charter school focused developing future leaders with a
diverse and low-income student population. We aim to devlop leadership through small class
sizes and deeply woven leadership charcteristics/core values in every day teaching and
modeled behavior. We keep our class sizes small to provide individual attention to children of all
skill levels, and to increase their long-term success. Our testing scores are some of the highest
in the state of Arizona.
2. If the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please describe your relationship with
Arizona municipalities including past and present support, whether it be through partnerships,
collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality governmental sub-
division please enter the text “Not applicable.”
We serve the community of Ahwatukee primarily, but have families who drive from many miles
away to attend our school. We also serve the overlow needs of the large Kyene district, saving
students who might otherwise “slip through the cracks” of thr public school education system.
3. Describe the proposed project and planned goals and activities.
Grant funding would cover the cost of a superindentent, special education director, marketing
and pay for teachers. We currently operate on less funding per student than that of the public
school system. We do not qualify for special funding. Grants would also go toward the need for
current and more relevant student curriculum. Our school will be closing down next year if we
are unable to aquaire the needed funds.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the
Gila River Indian Community.
This project satisfies the value Gila River Indian Community sees in quality education in the
state of Arizona, specifically for low-income and diverse socioeconomic student populations. We
see student’s that did notdo well in the standard public school system thrive.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by
the project.
We are a local charter serving the needs of our future generation in a time where the education system is
struggling statewide. At Ambassador, we provide a peaceful, productive, and safe environment for children, parents,
staff, and faculty. Our code of ethics and personal interactions foster a climate where children can learn to develop their

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2017
character as well their academic skills, preparing them to be successful leaders and change makers. Our testing scores as a
result are some of the highest in the state.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program.
This would be a new program, and used to keep the school doors open.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
Our timeline is not flexible, as the board has voted to close the school, should no additional
funds be ascertained. The parents have started fundraising and a GoFundMe but have limited
time to raise the needed funds. Our founder and prior super intendent has been giving her time
for the last ten years to serving the school without a paycheck. In order to keep the school open
we would need the funds to hire a new superintendent, director of special education (per state
regulation), increase salaries to retain staff and a marketing fund. Additionally, we are in need of
new curriculum and classroom materials.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
The parents just recently a GoFundMe, but have raised less than $1,000, as they struggle to
overcome some misconceptions of charter schools.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this
project?
No.
10. Describe your plan for project sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously
described sustainability plan.
The requested mount would ensure that we can hire both a superintendent, direction of special
education and invest into the current staff to retain quality teachers. Having these positions filled
would allow our current principal and potential super-intendent to spend more time on a 3-5 year
enrollment plan (marketing, curriculum development, etc.). Most administrative staff currently
play a number of roles due to budget constraints and cannot invest what is needed to grow. For
example, the principal is also the third grade teacher. The prior super intendent was also the
fifth grade teacher and as the founder was not taking a paycheck to create a school to serve the
needs of the community.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Documented and benchmarked progress would occur through sustained 3-5 year growth,
retained staff and student outcomes. The staff would create SMART goals around these goals
which would be held accountable by the governing board. The governing board and principal

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2017
would ensure that all funds are appropriately used. As of now we operate on a very tight budget
and are extremely conservative in use of funds. We are a no-frills school, only putting money
toward teachers, overhead and curriculum- the bare essentials to continue creating successful
student learning environments.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community
for state shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is
included in a separate attachment, please indicate that here.
None.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2017
Project Budget
Budget Period: Academic Year 2017-2018
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail
page.
Proposed Budget Expense Amount Amount In Kind Total Budget
(list each budget item) requested from requested or contributions
GRIC secured from
other funders
1. New Superintendent Salary $210,000 $0 $0 $210,000
2. Director of Education Salary $180,000 $0 $0 $180,000
3. Teacher Pay & Retirement $25,000 $0 $0 $25,000
Benefit
4. Rent & Utilites $60,000 $0 $0 $60,000
5. Marketing $10,000 $0 $0 $10,000
6. Curriculum & Class Materials $15,000 $0 $0 $15,000
7. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
8. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
9. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
10. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
11. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
12. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
13. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
14. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
15. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
16. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
17. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Budget $0 $0 $0 $0

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2017
Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include
the dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. 70,000 superintendent salary (3 years)
2. 60,000 Director of Special Education salary (3 years)
3. 25,000 Pay Increase (collective) to Current Staff with Implemented State Retirement (not currently offered)
4. 60,000 Overhead Cost (span of 2 years)
5. 25,000 Marketing & Curriculum
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
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15. Click here to enter text.
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17. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.

+-PARENTS & FAMILIES lab. A security system monitors the “Preparing future leaders
school for student safety.
Our students’ families are the most today”
important asset for learning. Family
members are always welcomed at the
Academy and we encourage frequent
volunteers. In addition, Ambassador
Academy offers a series of
workshops for families throughout the Ambassador
school year. Workshop topics have
included understanding how the brain A d
functions during learning, your child’s
personality, school budget, tips and
practice on expanding learning at
home. We work closely with families to
provide parenting guidelines on how to
foster leadership qualities in children.
Our future is in their hands.
LEARNING CLIMATE
Ambassador Academy, offers a
peaceful, productive, and safe place A Quality Elementary Charter
for children, parents, staff, and
faculty. Our code of ethics and School
personal interactions foster the
development of a climate where “A” Rating
children can learn to develop their
character as well their academic
skills. Students wear authorized • K – 5 Small class
uniforms and faculty wear School Hours: 7:45 – 3:00 sizes
professional clothes. Before and After School Care
6:30 AM to 7:45 AM and 3:15 to 6:30 PM
Offered by Potential Unlimited • Kinder Preparatory
class
OUR FACILITIES
Ambassador Academy is located at 3820 E. Ray Road
3820 E. Ray Road, Ste. 8, Phoenix, with Phoenix, AZ 85044
Ambassador Academy is a non-sectarian, public charter 480-961-2214
easy access from I-10, west on Ray Road. school and does not discriminate against any student on the
Students have computers in every basis of ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, or
classroom and we also have a computer di bili Dr. Elba Iris Reyes, Ph.D.

Principal/Superintendent
www.ambassadoracademy.us
email: office@ambassadoracademy.us

Children today = Ambassador Academy is a publicly THE FACULTY
funded, elementary charter school created
Leaders T omorrow to provide academic choices for parents Classroom Teachers
and students. Our school is designed to
Earth Crew: “Ambassador provide a learning environment that The educational staff at the Academy is
students created a recycling
program to make a positive improves pupil achievement. composed of energetic, highly qualified
impact… in our community.” Ambassador Academy provides a free teachers with certifications in the field of
…….Ahwatukee Foothills News and appropriate education for eligible education.
students who submit timely applications.
OUR VISION
To prepare individuals who excel in their THE CURRICULUM
present and future society, enhance their
self-confidence, motivation and self-worth,
and formulate positive personal values. THE FACULTY
Principal & Superintendent
OUR MISSION
Dr. Elba Iris Reyes
To prepare future leaders through academic
excellence and strong leadership character Dr. Reyes brings to the Academy a wealth of
development. experience in the field of education. Since The curriculum at Ambassador
1977, she has worked toward developing Academy is designed to challenge
learning environments where all students can students to higher levels of learning and
succeed. inquiry.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Reyes earned her Ph.D. at the University
Our curriculum is built on research-based
At Ambassador Academy we believe of Arizona, and has published in leading practices demonstrated to develop the skills
educational journals, has chapters in
that students must have opportunities for necessary for academic excellence and follows
educational books, and has spoken nationally
academic success through instruction and the National Common Core Standards
and internationally. Her research interests
activities that foster inquiry and self-
include the development of learning strategies
mediation of learning in a context of social
as well as reading and language development.
interactions. ENROLLMENT
Her credentials include Principal and
Children learn best in small learning
We believe that character and leadership Superintendent at the elementary school level, communities. Therefore, we guarantee small
qualities are developed as children have Reading First Principal at the elementary class sizes and enrollment is limited for each
opportunities to observe and practice those school level, and teaching at the elementary, class grade.
qualities, as they have opportunities to learn high school, and university levels.
how to give and accept critique, and as they
engage in community-service projects that
foster social responsibility.

Reviews from Greatschools.org
These are just a few of the reviews we have. They are all stellar and exemplify what
Ambassador Academy works so hard to instill and embody.
“Our family has had a great experience at this school. The superintendent and the principal are
involved and passionate about teaching and the children love it. The bets part of this school are the
small class sizes. If you've ever had your child in a school where 30 is the average class size, you
know how little one on one they get and often can fall behind or don't get what they need if they're
ahead and need to be challenged. The ratios here achieve just that- one on one with the teacher and
individualized learning plans for whatever your child's development. They also have a fantastic pre-k
program which again is small in size and truly focused on prepping them for kinder. If you haven't
had luck in the big schools, have had issues with bullying or just want a smaller more intimate
environment, this school is for you.”
“Ambassador Academy is a hidden gem. I love their philosophy of creating future leaders. The
teachers do a great job of communicating with the parents and keeping the atmosphere academic
yet fun. The small class sizes truly enable each student to work at their own level. There are many
fun activities throughout the year which creates a tight bond between the students, parents and
teachers.”

“Our family is so thankful to have found Ambassador. The small class sizes and excellent teachers
really help the children thrive! I also think it's great that the kids all know each other, which promotes
a sense of community and helps teach them to appreciate and respect their differences.”
“I love Ambassador Academy. They treat my daughter with kindness; the learning experience she's
getting at the school is worthwhile. The teachers care about the student's well being. The education
level is on point. My daughter's reading level is at 3rd or 4th grade level, and she's going to 2nd
grade. Love the school. I pray the school continue to grow. Great school.”
“I don't know what else to say about this school that others have already mentioned. My daughter
was born on 9/3/2010 and every where we went, they said she can't be in Kidengarten and was
about to give up and leave her at home with our grandparents. After contacting Dr.Reyes, she
invited us to tour the school and had a test for our daughter to see if she would qualify. Fortunately
she qualify after she was given some test. I am so glad I didn't give up on our search. We love the
teachers here and the school is such a great environment for our daughter. She has excel in so
many ways that I can't even recognize her anymore. She has even requested more homework and
enjoy reading. I would recommend this school to anyone.”
“Ambassador Academy is a one of a kind school! I couldn't be happier with the education our
children are receiving. They are absolutely thriving here! No need to even discuss bullying because
it isn't an issue at this school. The energy is focused on learning and empowering our children to
become future LEADERS in this world. Dr. Reyes has created a school with a sense of community
that is simply hard to come by. I feel very blessed to have found it.”