In the News
The Difference a Community Can Make Starts at the Table
Holbrook’s 2025–2026 Community and Family Engagement data offers a meaningful example of what can happen when a district creates more opportunities for its community to show up, listen, participate, and invest in its schools.
When a Community Says “Yes” to Students and Creates a Launchpad to Careers
A student’s pathway to a future career does not begin with a job application, a college acceptance letter, or even a high school course catalog. It begins much earlier—with the relationships, examples, and opportunities that help a young person see what may be possible. At Western Sky Middle School in the Litchfield Elementary School District, that belief became Mission Possible: a community-school partnership model designed to connect eighth-grade students with adults from across their community while making a meaningful link between attendance, education, and their futures.
School Connect Is Hiring Its Next Executive Director
As the organization enters an exciting new chapter, we are looking for a collaborative, visionary Executive Director who will build on the strong foundation established by founder and current CEO Tracey Beal. The next leader will bring energy, strategic vision, relationship-building skills, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful partnerships that support schools, educators, families, and students.
Tracey Beal Announces a New Chapter for School Connect
Founding School Connect has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. What began with a simple but deeply held belief—that schools are stronger when their communities come together to support them—has grown into something far beyond what I could have imagined. Today, that belief is alive in communities across Arizona. Partners are coming together to serve as villages of support for schools in Phoenix, on the Navajo Nation, and in rural districts throughout our state. And I have had the extraordinary privilege of watching it happen.
What AI Can’t Give Students—and What the Village Can
In a tech-saturated world, Arizona’s students don’t need robot teachers in our classrooms. They need adults who show up with support and build pathways from early childhood to career.
What the Research Got Right About School and Community Partnerships — And What I’ve Seen With My Own Eyes
A March 2026 landscape report commissioned by The Leadership Initiative for Faith & Education (LIFE) at Harvard Graduate School of Education studied more than 1,550 faith-school partnerships across nine Southeastern states. The findings confirm what I have long known: faith communities are already a significant component of the public education ecosystem, and the potential for even greater impact is enormous. When community partners are fully engaged — and engaged strategically — it makes a measurable difference for kids.
When Students Leave Their Mark: A Love Our Schools Day Story from Shea Middle School
It was the evening of April 29th, and I was standing in the cafeteria of Shea Middle School watching a seventh grader hold up a one-foot-square canvas covered in vibrant desert colors. She was looking at it the way you look at something you made with a mix of pride and a little bit of surprise at herself. That sense of student leadership and pride is one of the many reasons we do Love Our Schools Day.
CAFE News May 2026: The School Connect Difference in Rural Cochise County
Take a look inside School Connect’s recent training and coaching in Cochise County, and see how it’s changing the equation for kids, educators, and communities. Bisbee, Tombstone, Elfrida, and Sierra Vista in Cochise County are small, rural communities spread across a landscape where districts can be separated by an hour-and-a-half of highway. Resources are often thin. Turnover is real. And the weight that educators carry here is heavy. But something remarkable is also happening in Cochise County, and it’s worth telling!
School Connect Announces Arizona’s 2026 Champions of Education Award Recipients
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 30, 2026 – Arizona-based nonprofit School Connect brought together educators, students, and community leaders at the Orange Tree Golf Resort in Scottsdale for its 6th Annual Champions of Education Awards on Thursday. The breakfast event honored 15 individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to education and community service throughout Arizona.
School Connect Announces TOP 24 Finalists for 2026 Champions of Education Awards
PHOENIX, April 8, 2026 – School Connect is proud to announce the Top 24 finalists for the 2026 Champions of Education Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations who lead with heart, and are helping to build a brighter future for Arizona youth.
CAFE News: April 2026 Updates
Superintendent Dr. Carter Davidson thanked every leader present for having the courage to stand in unity behind the Litchfield Promise: to help students believe, belong, and become. He said that together we are choosing to be defined, not by “what we stand against”, but by “what we stand for”. According to Davison, this showing of solidarity reveals courageous leadership, and prepares us to take action for a cause worth every ounce of effort, energy, and hope – our children.
CAFE News: March 2026 Updates
Last month, the Miami Unified School District hosted a joint Business Partner CAFE in collaboration with Globe Unified School District, Hayden Unified School District, and San Carlos Unified School District, a groundbreaking step toward leveraging the network of the entire region to increase the depth and breadth of student support. The event kicked off with the color guard, followed by a welcome from students, including a poem titled “Level Up” read by Andrew Brown. ”You can’t level up in a room that’s comfortable in staying the same. If your friends laugh at your goals, you’ll shrink yours. If they push you higher, you’ll surprise yourself. You are only as steady as the people holding your ladder.” Andrew concluded, “You guys are the ones holding our ladder.”
School Connect and Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation Team Up to Make Reading a Slam Dunk for Valley Students
(PHOENIX) – It is officially “game on” for thousands of Pre-K/K-8 students in Arizona as this year’s Valley Readers program is in full swing. Local nonprofit School Connect and the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation are teaming up for a second year to reward students’ reading efforts with fun incentives, and a chance to host a Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Valley Suns assembly on campus.
YourValley: Early Learning Centers See Big Impact from ‘Love Our Schools Day’
YourValley News reported on the positive impact Love Our Schools Day had on early learning centers, showcasing strengthened community involvement and increased support for young learners and educators. Read the […]
ABC15 News: ‘Love Our Schools Day’ Encourages Community Members to Volunteer
ABC15 highlighted how Love Our Schools Day inspires community members across Arizona to step in and support local schools through volunteerism and meaningful acts of service. Read the full story […]
School Connect Announces Arizona’s 2025 Champions of Education Award Winners
Arizona’s Education and Community Champions Celebrated at School Connect Champions of Education Awards Breakfast
School Connect Announces Top 25 Arizona Finalists for 2025
Arizona’s ‘Best in Education’ Honored at School Connect’s 2024 Champions of Education Awards
Arizona Leaders Unite to Strengthen Education at School Connect Summit 2025
Phoenix, Ariz. (January 16, 2025) – School Connect, a statewide nonprofit committed to helping schools create community, will host its 10th Annual School Connect Summit, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona on February 10, 2025, at Footprint Center. The event will unite over 1,000 local leaders across education, nonprofit, business, faith, and civic sectors to inspire innovative funding and service solutions for Arizona students.
When effective, qualified teachers vanish from the workforce.
One year my granddaughter had an unusually special teacher. Mr. M was kind, structured, positive, and a knew how to ignite a child’s imagination in the classroom. Every day he would write a thought-provoking question or a quote on the board for students to explore throughout the day. As challenges arose, he would help students brainstorm and persevere until they found solutions. In his classroom, every voice mattered; he recognized every child’s unique contribution, talked about their strengths, and challenged them to not to settle. The last day of school he even met with students one by one to encourage their career aspirations and tell them what special genius they brought to the classroom.
Why everyone is talking about student attendance and what to do about it.
According to the Arizona Department of Education, students who were chronically absent in 2019 made up only about 14% of K-8 classrooms. While these numbers improved slightly in 2023, they are still hovering around 28% – double pre-pandemic rates. For children who are more vulnerable due to economic or minority status, chronic absenteeism jumps to even higher numbers, around 35%. Why is this such a big deal? Can missing 2 days of school a month, or 18 days a year, actually make that big of a difference?
How to Take Advantage of the Best Thing about Summertime: TIME
6 Tips for Using Summer “Time” to Reach Your Goals If you feel like time has been slipping through your fingers, you aren’t alone! While summertime boasts incredible opportunities, we find that summer planning is what truly helps us take advantage of the change of pace. Here are 6 ways to value your time, reach your goals, and make memories worth sharing!
School Connect Announces Arizona’s Statewide Education and Community Award Recipients at the 2024 Champions of Education Awards
Announcing Arizona’s Champions of Education Awards Class of 2024
School Connect Announces Top 24 Statewide Education Finalists for Arizona 2024 Champions of Education Awards
Arizona’s ‘Best in Education’ Honored at School Connect’s 2024 Champions of Education Awards
School Connect and Partners Host STEM CAFE to Build Arizona’s Workforce and Connect K-12 Students with STEM Opportunities
In this technology-driven global economy, Arizona’s workforce development depends on accessible and equitable K-12 STEM pathways.
School Connect Celebrates 10 Years of Impact with the School Connect Summit at Footprint Center
A Brighter Future for Every Arizona Community Starts with Leadership “Game Day” at Footprint Center
School Connect Celebra 10 Años de Impacto con la Cumbre de School Connect en Footprint Center
Un futuro mejor para cada comunidad de Arizona comienza con el “Día de Juego” de liderazgo en Footprint Center
STEM CAFÉ: nuevo programa que beneficiará a distritos escolare
Entérate de los beneficios de este programa para la comunidad y las empresas.
Queen Creek schools superintendent, students honored
Two Queen Creek Unified School District elementary students and the district’s superintendent have been honored by School Connect, an organization that connects schools to communities across Arizona.
School Connect Awards Finalists Announced Recognizing The Best In Az Education
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – School Connect has announced the finalists for its prestigious annual School Connect Champions of Education Awards 2023. This annual event honors the best in education throughout the […]
A Vision of Hope & Change
There are moments in life when we are privileged to meet someone whose leadership is culture shaping and whose vision is bringing hope and change – rippling out to increasing levels of impact for us today, and for generations to come. For me, Quincy Natay is one of those rare leaders who makes me feel like I am watching the future find wings and take flight.
The People Who Make The Difference
Today there are multitudes of children from all kinds of backgrounds who need the same investment that I received as a child. I see their faces and I realize how much value they have and how much potential they hold. These kids need consistent, trustworthy adults who will pay attention to their unique strengths and struggles. Student centered learning is more than tailoring our academic approach to the individual needs of children. It is also walking alongside their families to help them grow in resilience, providing the resources needed to overcome learning disabilities, or the support of mental health professionals when they struggle with anxiety or depression. Our schools are places where the whole community can come together to provide resources for our kids and families. This is not a platitude. It is often the very thing that makes the difference. I was the recipient of powerful community support connected through my local school. As an adult, I have watched it change the trajectory of so many lives. It is the thing that gets me up in the morning and it is what gives me vision for the future.
Why does Love Our Schools Day matter?
Sometimes people ask me what is so important about Love Our Schools Day. Can one day on a school campus, really make a difference? Of course, this question is understandable, and yet, the answer still echoes with resounding power. YES! While we are completing simple projects, it is often what happens beneath the surface that makes the biggest impact. Have you ever had a friend or family member come alongside you and help you clean out a room before a surgery or before welcoming a new baby? Has someone helped you install a playground, plant a tree, fix your car? What difference did it make? How did it change not just the practical options you had available, but the way you experienced your world? What did it mean to you to not be alone in that moment?
Valley organization connects Arizona schools to local communities
“A buzz of wonder and excitement that fills the air in Ms. Williams STEM class thanks to School Connect, an organization that connects schools to their local community, businesses, and churches…Heidi Vega says, ‘We work with the superintendents in different districts to identify those local needs, and then we gather up all the stakeholder groups and unite them in different ways.’ Ways like a massive food giveaway for Saint Mary’s Food Bank, a youth leadership summit, donations for a leader appreciation day…
School gets wellness room in honor of late teacher
“We are so appreciative of the donation that the family made in honor of their mom, as well as to our partnership with School Connect, because that really is what ignited this,” said Marlene Capristo, principal of Scott Libby Elementary. “Then, bringing in our amazing PTA, we took that vision and created this room. There’s just so much gratitude for all of that coming together to create something for this school.”
Avondale participates in School Connect Campaign “A Community Thrives” To Give Community Support to Under Resourced Children
School Connect is hosting its “A Community Thrives” campaign to connect 70 high-need Arizona schools, including the Avondale Elementary School District, to their surrounding communities. The Arizona-based nonprofit’s mission is to tangibly connect all 2,485 Arizona K-12 school campuses with community resources and partnerships so that every student has a well-informed village ready to help them reach their potential.
Arizona nonprofit School Connect brings communities together to help students in need
A Glendale-based nonprofit is working to bring together businesses, faith communities, nonprofits and government agencies to help Arizona students in need. School Connect partners with lower-income schools to provide students with clothing, food, mentorship and emotional support aimed at improving academic success. Last year approximately 700 Arizona schools were assisted through partnerships serving about 420,000 students.
AZ Organization Helping 70 High-needs Schools
PHOENIX, AZ – School Connect, the Arizona-based organization that connects schools to communities so that every child has accessible resources, is announcing its ‘A Community Thrives’ campaign. School Connect is on a mission to connect 70 high-need, Arizona schools to their surrounding community organizations, businesses and faith-based partners to help fill the educational, economic, social and emotional needs of the youth and families that attend these schools. Through a month-long campaign, the organization will raise funds to provide seven districts with the necessary project money to host CAFE projects to work toward teacher retention, student behavior and academic achievement.
6th Annual School Connect Summit
For Susie Smith, Principal of Desert Foothills Middle School, and Andrea Worth, Outreach Director of CalvaryPHX, that starting place was the School Connect Summit in 2018. Since that day, their partnership has grown in powerful ways! From students gaining interactive playground equipment to teachers receiving coffee gift cards, gift baskets, and community appreciation, Susie and Andrea’s partnership has built an environment where kids thrive!
Meet Tracey Beal | Founder & CEO of School Connect
Every time I have started something new there has been risk involved, but beginning our nonprofit, School Connect, felt particularly that way because I loved the job I already had. The chance to do something really fresh that could make a true difference in schools and communities was so compelling that I took the leap and I never looked back! Taking risks is the only way I have actually moved forward in things that really mattered to me. I had to believe in a vision of what could be, become really clear about what I was trying to accomplish and cast that vision in a compelling way so that others came to believe it as well.
School Connect AZ Asks Who Will You Nominate?
Every year School Connect AZ is inspired by the passion of educators to surround kids with resource rich environments that help our children learn and grow. The past year has been challenging like never before, but educators have faced this challenge with heroic resolve, and we want to celebrate them! Do you know a teacher, a student, a principal, a superintendent or a school board member who has inspired you with their ability to beat the odds, solve problems creatively and help their students and community thrive?
Mountain View School Story
Mountain View School Works with its Village to transform the lives of kids and their families.