Desert Thunder School in Avondale Elementary School District, Arizona, received the 2023 NIET Founder’s Award and its $50,000 grand prize.

Principal Ryan LoMonaco and his leadership team are building the capacity of teachers through dedicated time for collaboration and school-based professional learning, creating a positive learning environment for teachers and students alike.

"As a seasoned educator but a leader new to this school in the past year, introducing NIET's recommendations into our approaches to education has allowed me to ask questions and see the curriculum in a new light," said LoMonaco. "As a result of investing time, effort, and resources into developing the professional capital of the staff and the distributed leadership at Desert Thunder, I have had the privilege of learning alongside my staff as we grow together."