School History
OUR ROOTS
Cecil Shamley School, then known as Laird School, opened in 1964. As a sign of the times, the opening was delayed to October of that year due to chalk boards not being installed in classrooms in time for the start of the year.
NEW BEGINNINGS
The 1960s era school went under a complete rebuild in 2016 to better serve the needs of 21st century learners.
Changes for the school continued in 2022 when the school was renamed Cecil Shamley School, in honor former Tempe Elementary School employee, Cecil Shamley.
Shamley was employed in Tempe Elementary from 1959 to 1981 at various school locations including Aguilar Elementary, Fees College Preparatory Middle School, Mosley Middle School (formerly Gilliland), and Shamley School (formerly Laird) in positions including Assistant Principal and Principal. Then Principal Shamley and Counselor Susan Edwards developed and instituted the Kindergarten Readiness Program at Laird School, which was later adopted by other schools in Tempe, across Arizona, and in other states.
FAST FACTS
| ESTABLISHED | MASCOT | ENROLLMENT |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Leopards | 540 students |
Celebrating 150 Years of Tempe Elementary Schools
For more than 150 years, Tempe Elementary Schools has provided community-inspired education serving the families of Tempe, Phoenix, Guadalupe, and beyond. Explore the district timeline to journey through our key milestones and transformative events that highlight our evolution into a modern educational leader.