Megan Fitzsimons started with the Arizona Leadership Foundation in June of 2014 working on the disabled and displaced student applications. In 2016 her role expanded to include development for the Foundation as well. Prior to joining ALF, Megan was a special education teacher in the public-school system for eight years. Over the years she taught a range of abilities from low functioning autism, to moderate intellectual disabilities, to mild learning disabilities, in classrooms that ranged from self-contained to resource/inclusion. She obtained the skills needed to precisely write IEP’s (Individual Education Plans), appropriately run annual IEP meetings, and engage with other special education teachers, regular education teachers, parents and administration on a regular basis. Having this background enables Megan to read IEP’s/MET with the expertise needed to quickly and accurately evaluate the paperwork for qualification to the Disabled/Displaced scholarship program. In her position she has been able to refine the application process by enlightening schools and parents about the requirements, resulting in fewer declined applicants. In addition, she continues to appraise schools (specializing in special needs students) on their behavioral procedures/protocols, and assess the curriculum. Megan also investigates and evaluates new schools who are wishing to obtain a partnership with Arizona Leadership Foundation based on a variety of criteria.
In her development role for the Foundation Megan has helped identify potential target donors and target key stakeholders within identified corporations. She continues donor engagement and following the contribution she works to establish a platform for long term relationships with our corporate partners.
Megan moved to Arizona in 1998 with her family and then went on to attend the University of Arizona where she received a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. She is married with two children and lives in Fountain Hills. She is an avid skier and loves to spend time with her family in Park City, UT.
Meet Lily Troglia, from the St. Anthony School, located in Show Low, Arizona. Lily is in 3rd Grade and has attended the school since Pre-K. The Troglia family is Catholic and they appreciate how St. Anthony’s incorporates Catholicism into the studies. They also enjoy the sense of community the school fosters for the families who […]
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Meet the Humphreys’ twins from Phoenix Country Day School (PCDS) in Phoenix. Both brothers just graduated in the spring of 2023. Caleb is heading to Cornell University and Richard is heading to Carnegie Melon. They have been raised by their single mom, Mozette. She is very thankful for the Arizona Leadership Foundation scholarships that have […]
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Meet the Kholderov family from Phoenix Hebrew Academy (PHA). They are a family of seven, with two children currently attending PHA, Aaron is entering 7th Grade and Shlomo will be in 5th grade. Mom, Marina, is a preschool teacher and the dad, Nison is a barber. They have three grown children: Elizabeth who graduated from […]
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Meet Madison Archambault an 11-year-old with Cerebral Palsy and a severe developmental delay. She attends ACCEL, a school serving special needs students in the Phoenix area. The Arizona Leadership Foundation has worked with ACCEL for a number of years and we recently were on-site to be a part of the dedication of the re-opening of […]
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Meet Abril, a first-grade student at Immaculate Conception School in Yuma, AZ. She loves swimming and making new friends at the park. Abril enjoys gymnastics, dance classes and performing on-stage. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher. Abril is pictured with her mom, Lorenia. Lorenia, works at the Hospice of Yuma as […]
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Let us introduce Ethan Saenz, who graduated last May from Dream City Christian School with a 4.5 GPA. Ethan is currently attending Grand Canyon University (GCU). Ethan received scholarships from the Arizona Leadership Foundation from Kindergarten through his senior year of high school. We at ALF are so proud that he has translated that support […]
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Meet the Burke Family, Kadence is in 9th grade and Jakob is in 8th grade at The Jones-Gordon School. Amanda, their mom is also a teacher at the school where she teaches the Wilson Reading System to dyslexic students and also middle school math. Their dad, Jake Sr., is a City of Phoenix Police Officer who […]
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Meet the Conner-Townsend Family. Robert and Dolores Conner adopted their six grandchildren so they could provide them with a fresh start and the greatest chance for success. They moved their grandchildren from Pinetop to Tucson, where the Conner’s live, so they could lead a normal life with a quality education, in a faith-based environment. The Conners, who are Catholic, wanted […]
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Meet Waylon, who is in first grade at the Foundation for Blind Children (FBC). Waylon has a very rare chromosome abnormality that has caused multiple disabilities including cortical visual impairment. Waylon started receiving visual therapy services from FBC when he was around a year old. When it was time to choose a preschool, the family […]
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Over a decade ago, Luis Jimenez played in a grade school Mariachi Band at the Arizona Leadership Foundation Scholarship Fair. Luis played the violin and sang as part of the group, he has had the quite the journey since that sunny day in Tucson. Meet our latest “Where Are They Now” Spotlight Story, Luis Jimenez […]
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