Litchfield Elementary district principal honored as outstanding middle middle grades administrator

Courtney Frazier, founding Principal of Belen Soto Elementary School, was named the 2026 Arizona Middle Grades Administrator of the Year by the Arizona Association for Middle Level Education.

The award recognizes school leaders who demonstrate commitment to the academic achievement, well-being, and development of young students.

Since opening Belen Soto in 2019, Frazier has built a thriving K–8 campus within the Litchfield Elementary School District.

“Courtney leads with both high expectations and genuine care,” said Dr. Jennifer

Belen Soto has achieved some of the district’s strongest academic outcomes. Notably, the school’s eighth-grade students earned the district’s highest mathematics proficiency rate, while students across grades six through eight have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in both mathematics and English language arts.

Frazier established Belen Soto’s STORM identity: Service, Teamwork, Ownership, Respect, and Motivation, creating a campus where students feel connected, valued, and inspired to lead. Middle school students mentor younger peers, serve on the Principal’s Advisory Council, and play an active role in shaping school traditions, providing authentic opportunities to develop confidence, responsibility, and leadership.

“Great middle schools are built on more than strong academics; they are built on relationships, belonging, and a belief that every young adolescent has the potential to lead,” said Dr. Robert Caplinger, President of the Arizona Association for Middle Level Education.“Courtney Frazier exemplifies everything this award represents.”