Drive by Anthem on I-17 and you can't miss it - High School Number 5, an as-of-yet unnamed entity that will soon be the base of learning for over 1,500 teenagers. And now, the Deer Valley School District has named the primary educational architect of the school: Principal Kevin Imes.

Imes started his position as Principal this month, but is already in the midst of formulating his vision of the school and its direction. "I'm excited about this role in several regards, and first is that I want to develop a community 'crown jewel' of education, really integrating the school into the community." Imes realizes that High School #5 is different from other district schools in that there are geographic boundaries that define its population. In other Deer Valley Schools, neighborhoods between schools blend in together. High School #5 will bring together several cohesive communities that include Anthem, New River , Tramonto and Desert Hills. "These communities are all distinct," Imes says, "and the High School is going to be a unifying factor."

High Schools in the Phoenix area are huge by many standards, and this one will be no exception. It's easy for a freshman to feel disconnected coming into a mammoth metropolis of education, and that feeling has not been lost on district staff. To make a student's high school world seem smaller, High School #5 is divided physically into "houses," and each student will be assigned to one. Each house will have a "family" of approximately 160 students and a team of 6 teachers that teach primarily those students. Juniors and seniors will be organized into houses connected with their career interests. "For Deer Valley , this concept is brand new," Imes said. "This is the first time that a school has been built around an educational philosophy, versus as just a facility." Imes is quick to point out that this concept has been proven in other schools in the United States even though it is new to the Phoenix area. He said that Dr. Virginia McElyea, School Superintendent, was a main driver for the school design.

Imes is no stranger to high school students. He spent 10 years as a high school teacher, and 2 years as Principal at Deer Valley Crossroads, the District's alternative education school. Imes saw some success with some of the alternative programs at Crossroads, and plans to find innovative programs that fit into this High School, such as internships, "shadowing," and other programs that help a high school student prepare for the working world.

Behind every great man is a woman, and Imes is no exception. His wife, Linda, is eager to help in garnering parental support and participation for the school. "My wife has had a tremendous influence - I wouldn't have taken on this endeavor if I hadn't had her support." Imes said that they are planning to move into the area to get closer to the communities that the school serves.

The biggest task of his new job in January? "Definitely naming the school," he says, indicating that a lot of eyes are on the naming process. "In the past Phoenix high schools have been named after people, like Sandra Day O'Connor or Barry Goldwater. I'm not so sure we'll be going that way." Imes is anxious to find a name that has "marketability," so that people call the school by the name, and not where it is located. He wants the naming process to be collaborative and will be having a page on the district website where residents can offer their suggestions.

Also on his to-do list is hiring teachers and enrolling students through the elementary and high schools so that the district can get an accurate count of the number of incoming freshman and sophomores. Although the construction process is moving along without his control, Imes is still interested in the details. "I've learned how long and high speed bumps are," he jokes. But his interest in the school construction minutiae shows his total commitment to the school and everything in it.

Imes realizes his new job is a chance of a lifetime. "I don't know of many administrators that get to build a school from the ground up," says Imes. His decisions affect more than the 1500 students he will shepherd. They will affect the families of those students and help to steer the future of all of the communities the school serves.

Did you know that Deer Valley schools have their own web sites with PTA information, school calendars, and teacher pages? Find your school's web site at http://www.dvusd.k12.az.us/schools/index.html.