Champions of Education Awards

Because every child deserves a champion, we honor those who have courageously made a difference for Arizona youth

Honoring Arizona Champions of Education

The School Connect Champions of Education Awards event honors those who lead with heart and help us to build a brighter future for Arizona youth. Every year School Connect presents awards in 13 categories, including individuals ranging from kindergarten all the way to CEO! Watch our Student Champion of the Year for the K-6 Category, Sophia Ketring, to learn how he is a champion for education!

Who Is A Champion of Education?

We believe that champions of education are those who not only have vision for a better world but take action on behalf of our kids. Champions of education include educators and community members who take the time to build relationships, establish trust, and know that what they invest in students travels home with them, and in turn strengthens their families, and ultimately the communities around all of us. Every courageous leader who helps to create a safe space for students, who gathers networks of people to work toward positive change in the world around them, every one of you is helping to start a movement that creates a brighter future for Arizona youth.

Education Awards

Changemaker Award

Superintendent

This Superintendent has taken a stand as a leader – bringing innovative solutions to their entire district; building networks of support across multiple sectors to create diverse and powerful growth in their district. They have cast a clear and compelling vision for their school district and work with diverse community partners to support the initiatives of individual schools as well as district wide strategies of support.

Hero Maker Award

Teacher

This Teacher has built trust, modeled resilience, and cultivated leadership in others to influence not only their classroom, but parents, other teachers, and even outside community members, thus stimulating hope and inspiring courageous leadership for the future. They are also in tune with the needs of students and parents with a clear understanding of how community partnerships can support wraparound services and academic achievement for students and greater parent engagement.

Catalyst for Education Award

Principal

This Principal has sparked collaboration toward a specific change, leading the way as a catalyst that ignites hope and rallies others to champion their school community. They have identified strategic ways community partners can impact their school and built community partners into a village of strategic partnerships that are founded on relationships of trust and win/win collaboration.

Collaborative Leadership Award

School Board Member

This School Board Member has partnered with other leaders to bring unified community engagement and support to their district, building synergy and empowering their board to exceed expected outcomes for their district. They have also cast a compelling vision of the goals and needs of their school district while building strategic partnerships that can drive outcomes in their schools district wide.

Student Champion of the Year

Student (K-6)

This Student exemplifies great-hearted leadership – cheering others on, leading by example, and inspiring his or her fellow student to generosity, perseverance, and the bold leadership required to empower the next generation. They have been fully engaged in their education by bringing their unique gifts and talents to every aspect of learning and are also interested and concerned in the welfare of their peers.

Student Champion of the Year

Student (7-12)

This Student exemplifies great-hearted leadership – cheering others on, leading by example, and inspiring his or her fellow student to generosity, perseverance, and the bold leadership required to empower the next generation. They have been fully engaged in their education by bringing their unique gifts and talents to every aspect of learning and are also interested and concerned in the welfare of their peers.

Because It Takes A Village Award

School

This school has built a diverse network of community partners to support the school, students, and families in its community. Leadership has worked strategically to celebrate community engagement and the school actively tracks progress toward their goals, celebrating every step towards victory!

School Champion of the Year Award

School Champion

This person has become a trusted partner of the school principal and the community. By listening to the strategic goals of the school and needs of the community, they have facilitated collaboration amongst parties, tracked and communicated progress, and celebrated the entire team’s efforts toward student success!

EVENT DETAILS

Event Location
Orange Tree Golf Resort
Mariposa Ballroom
10601 N. 56th Street
Scottsdale, AZ  85254

Event Date & Time
Date: April 28, 2023 | Time: 8:30 – 10:30 AM

Elizabeth Cranford Wins The Hero Maker Award

“I know that I’m not the only teacher who is doing everything that I can with the time that I have here. I know that there are so many teachers who are working hard and giving it everything that they have – sacrificing selfcare, sometimes sacrificing family time? And so I don’t want to think that I am doing something different than the teacher in the next room, in the next school, in the next city, in the next state, in the next country!”

Dr. Joe Roselle Wins The Founder’s Heart Award

This very special award honors a leader with a courageous heart who sees the genius, passion, and love in other people, gathers those people together, and works to unleash their collective power for positive change in the world around them. Dr. Roselle is a visionary leader who honors the leadership of others around him, finds a way to move forward in the most challenging of circumstances, and celebrates the successes of his students and community.

Community Awards

CIVIC IMPACT AWARD

Local Government

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT AWARD

Local Nonprofit

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

Local Business

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AWARD

National Nonprofit

BRIDGE BUILDERS AWARD

National Business

HOPE BUILDERS AWARD

Local Faith

FOUNDER’S HEART AWARD

Courageous Leadership

Thank you to our Sponsors!

PRESENTED BY

CATALYST FOR EDUCATION SPONSOR

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News & Events

School Connect Champions of Education Awards 2023

The School Connect Champions of Education Awards event honors those who lead with heart and help us to build a brighter future for Arizona youth.

New To The Valley: STEM Cafe

School Connect and the City of Phoenix Youth & Education Commision launched a new program, STEM CAFE, designed to benefit school districts throughout Arizona, aiming to bridge the gap between STEM industries and schools. 

Hear more at the link in bio
"School Connect recently held its awards ceremony to recognize Arizona's youth, and many West Valley school districts were honored at it. School Connect has been focusing on connecting schools to their communities since being founded in 2014."

Read about our 2023 School Connect Champions of Education Awards at the link in bio
Summit Partnerships Make A Difference

Our summit brought together many wonderful opportunities for partnerships to thrive, including Glendale ESD and Central Christian Church. Their newly established partnership resulted in a beautification project for one of their schools! 

Did your district create new relationships from attending our summit? Did your company adopt or support a local school since our event? Send us an email about your story today! Email cmo@schoolconnectaz.org and tell us how the School Connect Summit changed your community!
Thank you @bcbsaz for spreading the love to eight Phoenix schools this #teacherappreciationweek 💙
How do we ensure our students have the tools they need to succeed? Our guest this week, Jason Catanese, shares the importance of taking initiative to build math skills in Arizona youth. Tune in to hear about the crucial role mathematics plays on our children's future. Link in bio
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