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About

Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. (AZACS) is the first and only tuition-free, public charter network in Arizona focused on the educational needs of students with autism. The charter’s primary focus is to use the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to support students’ behavioral needs and help them access state instructional standards to the best of their ability. AZACS also uses STEAM and project based learning to help students apply foundational skills into project that are of high interest to them. AZACS was unanimously approved to serve grades K-12 grade by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools. AZACS is serving families with two campuses in Central Phoenix, a campus in the West Valley, our Tucson Upper Campus and a fully accredited online school. Our one-of-kind charter network has been recognized nationally for excellence and innovation, winning the prestigious Yass Prize in 2022!

Mission Statement

The mission of the Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. is to educate students with autism and other neurodiversities using evidence-based strategies grounded in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). This educational model will be delivered by highly trained teachers and staff. Our goal is to make this high quality, specialized education accessible to students with autism in the Phoenix Metropolitan area and beyond. 

Our Vision

Students will be empowered to reach their full potential in motivating, compassionate environments using individualized programs so that every child gains the skills to integrate into the community and become a fulfilled, productive citizen.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

All individuals are welcome at Arizona Autism Charter Schools, regardless of race, color, age, national origin, sex, transgender status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, political affiliation or parental status. Diversity not only complements our organizational values of teamwork, leadership, empowerment, and service quality, but also encompasses the way we work, the work environment, and respect for all people and their ideas.

Executive Leadership

Lead Founder & Executive Director

Diana Diaz-Harrison
President, AZACS Charter Network

Clark Crace
Chief Academic Officer

Myla Goyne

Lead Founder & Executive Director

Diana Diaz-Harrison

Diana Díaz-Harrison, M.Ed. is the Lead Founder and Executive Director at Arizona Autism Charter Schools (AZACS). She was inspired to start the school by her son, Sammy, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Like many parents, she struggled to find an appropriate school for her son and decided to do something about it.

In 2012, she formed a board of parents and grandparents of children with autism along with professionals in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. Together, they drafted a proposal for an instructional program and business plan to create Arizona’s first autism-focused charter school. Diana presented this plan to the Arizona Charter School’s Association and was selected to participate in a competitive Charter Starter Development Program. After completing this program, she submitted a successful charter application to the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, which was approved in 2013. Once approved, Diana worked with her team to apply for prestigious start-up grants to gain the capital needed to start the school. It was an arduous labor of love, and the school opened successfully in the fall of 2014.

Diana possesses a unique combination of experience in broadcast media, public relations and education. While her early career experience was as a bilingual school teacher in California, she later held several prominent positions in broadcast media and public relations. Prior to dedicating herself full-time to AZACS, she was a Senior Communications Strategist at Salt River Project (SRP), Arizona’s leading utility company. In 1999, she came to the Phoenix market to serve as Univision 33’s lead Spanish language news anchor and reporter focusing on education and medical news.

Her professional career turned to education once again, after her son, Sammy, was diagnosed with autism. From 2007 to 2009, she served as Hispanic Community Relations Strategist for the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC). In this role, she brought autism awareness to the forefront of the Hispanic Community by working with Univision television and radio to produce weekly news segments on this widespread neuro-diversity. In October of 2009, Diana was recognized with an Emmy nomination for her news reports on autism. While working at SARRC, Diana conducted multiple trainings to teach educators about the characteristics of autism and strategies to connect parents to early intervention services. It was her professional experience at SARRC that connected Diana to the leading professionals in the treatment and education of children with autism and what planted the idea of starting a school.

In her role as Lead Founder and Executive Director, Diana has worked with her team to open three successful campuses and an accredited online school in just nine years of operation. Each year, the schools meet and exceed their academic goals as approved by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.

AZACS has been recognized by several prominent educational entities such as Charter Schools Growth Fund, A for Arizona, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s Office of Education, and most recently was the top million dollar winner of the Yass Prize. Diana’s goal is to help each student become a fulfilled, productive citizen. She is doing this by develop community partnerships that can lead to jobs and ensuring students are ready for college and vocational opportunities. As the mother of a child with autism, her driving force is to create a life of purpose and fulfilling opportunities for her students.

President, AZACS Charter Network

Clark Crace

Phone:(602) 882-5544

Chief Academic Officer

Myla Goyne

My name is Myla Goyne and I am honored to serve as the Director for the Elementary Campus. I started working with a variety of students in 2001 as an intern, and then special education paraprofessional while I attended Arizona State University and graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. During that time is when I discovered my love for working with students with exceptionalities, and decided to further my education and obtain my Master of Education in Special Education. Since then, I have served as a Special Education Teacher, Special Education Instructional Coach, and Exceptional Student Services Coordinator. To prepare for my role as a district administrator, I obtained my Supervisor and Principal Certification, and I am finishing my second Masters with a focus on Educational Leadership.
This will be my second year in this role at AZACS, and I am looking forward to continuing the growth and progress both staff and students accomplished last year. I am especially excited about the opportunity to work alongside Traci, our new ABA Director, and partner with her to provide our students with a positive school experience.
During my free time, my partner Tom and I enjoy vacationing to explore new places, but we seem to be drawn to more beach themed adventures. Nothing beats a good book and sand between the toes. We also enjoy catching a concert or spending time with our families which include his teenage triplet sons and daughter and our two dogs.
Thank you for your continued support of AZACS, and please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or topics you would like to discuss. I look forward to working with you all!

Arizona Autism Charter Schools Board of Directors

Board President

Keisha McKinnor, Thrive Community Services, Inc.
 

Board Treasurer

Paul Pucino, Chief Financial Officer and Financial Advisor
 

Board Secretary

Ron Harrison, Salt River Project (SRP), AZACS Parent
 

Board Directors

Ross Meyer, DevWerks, Inc., AZACS Parent
Kerrie Mallory-Thompson, Empowered Prints, AZACS Parent
Matthew Simon, Associate VP, State and Federal Relations, ASU

Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc. is governed by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools. Click here for the school’s financial, operational and academic dashboards.
 

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