For the fourth year in a row, Arizona Charter Academy has been selected as one of Arizona’s “Most Admired Companies.”

The Surprise school was chosen along with 39 other businesses from nearly 300 nominations for the honor. Arizona Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ teamed up to recognize the contributions and impact that local companies bring to the state and the award is based on employee, customer and community opinions.

Chief Operations Officer Melissa Holdaway said: “It is our teachers and staff members who make the difference, and we work hard to make sure our staff is acknowledged, celebrated and feel valued.”

“The entire staff at Arizona Charter Academy is thrilled that we have been chosen as one of the most admired companies for the fourth year in a row,” said Pricilla Hernandez, one of the school’s teachers and English Language Learner coordinator.

“Every day, every single one of our teachers and other staff members work hard to offer a positive and encouraging environment for our students that respects and welcomes diversity of all types. For our school to be recognized four times in a row for our efforts is extremely gratifying for all of us.”

Examples of the school’s outstanding commitment to the community, Holdaway said, include annual trips to an impoverished area to build a home from the ground up for a family, monetary donations from students for various causes, community cleanup events and shared decision making and leadership opportunities for staff.