Principal's Message

Hello Winslow Junior High School family and friends,

Welcome to the 2023/2024 school year! I am Debra Lopez and I am  the Principal of Winslow Junior High School. As I begin my sixth year as the Educational Leader of WJHS I am so grateful to be part of the community of learners here in Winslow. 

With each year here at Winslow Junior High, I strive to connect even more with the community and help make our school a welcoming place. I was born and raised in the community of Winslow and am so excited to continue to serve the students in the very school that I attended. After graduating from Winslow High I completed my Bachelor's Degree at Northern Arizona University majoring in Elementary Education. I was then fortunate to be a teacher for the next 14 years here at WUSD #1. I taught 6th grade for 10 years before making the change to teaching 4th grade for the next 4 years.  I made the decision to pursue my Masters Degree in Educational Administration and graduated from Grand Canyon University. I had the opportunity to serve as an academic coach assisting new and veteran teachers in our district. For 3 years I served as the Student Advisor here at Winslow Junior High School before taking on the role and responsibility of Principal at WJHS.

As we continue to move forward several years of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic it is time to refocus on learning and creating a positive learning environment for all students at WJHS. We have seen great successes following the pandemic here at WJHS but we still have work to do. One of the areas we want to prioritize this year is attendance.  In order for your child to have a successful year here at WJHS we ask that you support us in also prioritizing attendance. It is very important that your student is in every class, every day. When students miss school they miss out on valuable information. Research shows the chronic absenteeism has a negative affect on student academic performance. The number of students identified as chronically absent has increased following the pandemic and it is imperative that students understand they have a responsibility to be in class. This is a critical learning period for these students and along with the academics, the life skills we are instilling are equally important. Being on time and attending class every day is one of the skills that is essential for success as an adult. We ask for your assistance in making sure your student is in school every day unless their is a valid reason for their absence. 

Having worked at the Junior High for the past 8 years, I have seen the development of programs that are focused on student achievement and student centered learning. As part of our program we are providing your student with an environment that takes into consideration the social and emotional needs of a Junior High School student. We have a built in intervention period that allows every student to get targeted instruction in areas they are showing deficits. We also provide enrichment opportunities for students who show they have met the standards and are progressing on pace or ahead based on assessment results.   Our school offers after-school tutoring to allow students to receive additional assistance and support. Our teachers are committed to provide your student with a positive, supportive learning environment.  My goal is to continue to collaborate with them to provide an environment where every student has the opportunity to learn in a safe, engaging, learning environment with dedicated staff.  I welcome families to be part of the team in supporting your student and their teachers. It is through the partnership of parents, educational staff and the community that we provide our students with a learning environment that fosters their growth.

Winslow Junior High School has so many opportunities for students to showcase their talents and be part of the community here at WJHS. I encourage every student to be part of our sports program, clubs, or fine arts program.  Junior High is a wonderful time for adolescents to explore new activities and be part of the extra-curricular program.  My hope is we can continue to achieve great things here at WJHS and provide your child with the tools for them to accomplish their goals.

I look forward to the new year and am excited to see the amazing things that our students will accomplish this academic year. Thank you for all of your patience and understanding as we work together during this school year. Let's work together to make it a wonderful experience for your student! We are WJHS.....BULLDOG PROUD!

Debra Lopez, Principal

Winslow Jr. High School

#WeAreWJHS