We take time to regularly examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

We have to know where we come from in order to know where we’re going. “The one constant factor in all of your endeavors is yourself”; we believe that understanding ourselves is therefore paramount. Our ability to recognize and understand emotions in ourselves and others, and our ability to use this awareness to manage our behavior and relationships will increase our individual and collective leadership capacities.

We cultivate a spirit of curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

Our students are confident critical thinkers. They have the skills, character, knowledge and design process to impact the world with their ideas and creativity. By thinking broadly about the world around them and engaging in meaningful and relevant real-world experiences, they learn to address problems at all scales, imagine new ideas, and build authentic solutions

We do whatever it takes in service of our mission.

For our students, this means becoming true change agents in their community by embracing a spirit of selfless service. We see service as inherent to both scholarship and citizenship, and we commit to helping our community, both in school and out of school. For PISOTA staff, our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we consider our work an act of service to our students, their families, our community, and ourselves. We do not engage in service for personal gain or external accolades; rather, we do so because serving others is the right thing to do.

We aim for high-quality and exemplary attention to detail in everything we do.

From students’ schoolwork to school culture and behavior to staff lesson planning and beyond, we hold high expectations of everyone at PISOTA. In turn, we hold ourselves accountable to provide excellent support, care, and view challenges or setbacks as opportunities to grow and learn. We celebrate our own successes and those of others when we achieve lofty goals.