Building An Educational Foundation…
Skull Valley has had several different school buildings in various locations since the first school was established here in 1879. The first (1879-1897) and second (1897-1908) schools in Skull Valley (the second one burned down) were on Shupp Lane near Sterling Ranch. The third (which also burned) was near the county house or Hole in the Brush and was in use from 1908-1916. The 1916 Community Hall was used as a school prior to construction of the 1925 building. Skull Valley still has many living residents who attended school in the 1925 building, which was in use from 1925 through 2001. Behind the 1925 school building is a small house, which was used as housing for Skull Valley’s teachers. The teacherage is used for storage now, but it was used as classroom space as recently as 2001. The 1925 school building was partially restored by the Skull Valley Historical Society, and that work is being continued by the district. The newest Skull Valley School was built in 2001 and shares a campus with the previous two school buildings. 2016 was Skull Valley School’s Centennial year, celebrating 100 years on the current campus.
A Brief Staff History…
Skull Valley School has been an essential part of the Skull Valley Community for over 100 years and has been home to a long list of memorable staff members (many local) who have dedicated many years of their lives to our students.
A family that is important to remember is the Ballews. Skull Valley’s former Food Service Director, Shirley Ballew, worked at Skull Valley School for 48 years, retiring in 2018. Former students, now adults, remember Mrs. Ballew fondly her home-cooked meals and personal birthday cakes as two of their most memorable elementary school experiences. Shirley’s mother-in-law, Edna Ballew Patton, was the school’s bus driver for 26 years, from 1961 to 1986. Lastly, Shirley’s husband, Daryl Ballew, was a student at the school and enjoyed sharing memories of some of his former teachers. For example, Daryl remembered many of his teachers. He remembers Edna Cordes, 1942-1944; Mrs. Sparks, 1944-1945; and Mr. Gamble, around 1947-1948. He shares A specific memory of Mrs. Sparks, who impressed her students because she kept long willow sticks in the corner of her classroom and wasn’t afraid to use them!
Many locals know and love Dr. Kay Dean, who filled the role of head teacher for Skull Valley School for several years in the mid-1980s. During her tenure with the district, she played a vital role in SVS, which was recognized as one of the top ten elementary schools in Arizona. The State Superintendent of Schools at the time, Carolyn Warner visited the school personally to present a certificate of recognition to Dr. Dean for the school’s excellence in its K-3 and 4-6 grade programs. Skull Valley was one of only two schools to receive awards in both categories.
Vicki Hilliker dedicated 18 years of her life to the staff and students of SVS and retired in 2016. As both a teacher and administrator, she played an important role in maintaining the family atmosphere and continuing the long-standing traditions observed at the school (i.e. Halloween costume parade and trunk-or-treat, Easter egg hunts, small schools’ track meet, speech meet, and science fair.) Most of these traditions continue today.
Most recently, our beloved classroom aide, Raquel Martinez, retired after serving Skull Valley Students for thirty-four years. Raquel is remembered fondly as a loving and nurturing member of the Skull Valley Team. She was noted as being an extremely intuitive instructor and peer, knowing exactly what each student needed to be successful and what each staff member needed to feel valued and at ease. When asked about Raquel, Vicki Hilliker said, “She was head and shoulders above any paraprofessionals I ever worked with!”
Although SVS has grown in recent years and is no longer a two-room school house, we still maintain a family atmosphere, individualized learning, and high standards for academic excellence. Because of these continued values, we are proud to announce that Skull Valley School recently earned an “A” letter grade from the Arizona Department of Education.
Community Involvement…
The Small Schools Track Meet has always been a big event for all the small communities in the area. Back in the sixties and seventies, it included the high jump event. Skull Valley had such strong high jumpers that scouts and coaches from all over the county would come to watch. Skull Valley School adopted the Skunk mascot in the early fifties when the Skull Valley Skunks softball team made a name for itself all over the state of Arizona. There are still quite a few members of the Skull Valley Skunks team living in the valley.
Skull Valley School has a long history of support from the local community. Land for the school was obtained from the late Hulda Christopherson’s family, the Coughrans. More recently, in 2003, the late Mr. Tom Jack of Prescott donated the wonderful purple and orange “big toy” playground equipment. Local artist Loren Phippen had a beautiful bronze plaque (displayed near the playground) made in honor of Mr. Jack’s generous gift. The Skull Valley Historical Society and Loren Phippen donated an antique school bell to the school in 2011, which we use every day.