Who We Are

Annie Holub
Founder/Director

I have been teaching in Tucson since 2003. From 2013-2023 I taught English at City High School in downtown Tucson. From 2010-2013, I taught Writing and Literature at Esperero Canyon Middle School. Currently, I am teaching online for Pima Community College.

Even in a progressive, alternative school like City High, I saw the need for a different way to do school. So many kids just need a different space, a different approach, a different structure. My own son has ADHD and PDA and needs a different kind of school that allows for autonomy and personalized learning.

I was a member of the 2024 ASU Prep Microschool Fellowship, and am currently a member of the VELA Founders Network, the KaiPod Founders Network, and am currently enrolled in ASU's Graduate Certificate program in Autism Spectrum Disorders. We are also a member of the National Microschooling Center.

I am working to build and develop Desert Dragon as a safe, flexible space for middle schoolers with ADHD, PDA, sensory challenges, and other learning differences.

We are a registered nonprofit in the state of Arizona, and have applied for federal 501c(3) status.