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You know heroes just like Fatimah!
Winner of the 2024 Student Champion of the Year, Grades 7-12, Fatimah Amer is a public health activist who was recognized as the youngest recipient of the Stella Kiarie Innovation in Health Equity award, as Arizona’s 18 under 18, and was invited to speak at the Arizona Board of Education about her outstanding achievements. She is CEO of her social organization, SPARKHope, which provides resources to alleviate the social determinants of health, helping vulnerable teens and families throughout the state and she has recently launched a grassroots initiative PolicyPulse. In addition to her philanthropy, she is conducting groundbreaking state of the art research at ASU.
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!
Join Our Village
Doing this alone is impossible; it takes all of us working together to make a difference.
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News & Events

Champions of Education Awards 2025
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 15 categories, including individuals ranging from kindergarten all the way to CEO! Join us to honor their legacy!
Happy Independence Day from School Connect—where we believe every act of empowering schools creates a brighter future for our kids!
Thank you for being part of our village!
#4thofJuly

Want to make a difference? You might be just one connection away...
Just ask these 21 incredible girls! When Brooke Mandelbaum, a high schooler with a big heart, dreamed of giving back and helping girls feel beautiful, all she needed was a pathway.
That’s where School Connect came in—connecting Brooke with counselor Adriana Toles at Alhambra High School.
Together, they made prom dreams come true for 21 young women from Alhambra and Cesar Chavez High Schools who had a chance to pick out their own dresses, received perfume and tickets, and created memories they’ll never forget.
This is the power of connection—reminding every student that they matter, inside and out.
Here’s to sparking more joy, one connection at a time!
#SchoolConnect #PromDreams #PowerOfConnection #EveryChildMatters

You`re invited to join us at the Classroom to Career Workshop on September 10th!
As Dr. Carol Lippert shared, during this interactive event, educators and industry leaders will come together to connect, explore ways to enhance learning, and develop effective workplace pipelines.
Will we see you there?!
👉 Grab your spot here: https://schoolconnectaz.org/classroom-to-career
Thank you to our partners: Grand Canyon University, Arizona Business & Education Coalition, Victory Schools AZ, and Fiesta Sports Foundation for making this event possible!
#ClassroomtoCareer #STEM #Arizona #Education

The most exciting opportunities for students rarely happen by accident...
They happen when the right people come together—each bringing something special to the table—to create something bigger than any one of us could achieve alone.
That’s exactly what’s happening with the Classroom to Career Workshop!
As we count down to September 10th, meet the incredible partners who are making this event possible.
More than sponsors, Grand Canyon University, Arizona Business & Education Coalition, and Fiesta Sports Foundation, are kindred spirits in believing in what`s possible when we come together to support schools and students.
Grab your ticket to join us on September 10th, and let`s connect and collaborate! https://schoolconnectaz.org/classroom-to-career/

What happens when students, educators, and local businesses come together with a shared vision?
Thanks to support from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the dedicated efforts of local engineering and construction companies working alongside the class of 2025, the Cactus High School atrium has been completely revitalized...
Beyond the construction, students had the chance to learn firsthand about careers in engineering and construction while hearing stories and advice from the experts. Several volunteers even offered to continue mentoring students and opening doors to future opportunities!
It`s these connections that we get excited about most!
The new atrium features a pond, paths, native plants, and enclosures for a desert tortoise and rabbits. It will serve as both an outdoor classroom—supporting lessons in biology, ecosystems, and the environment—and a peaceful spot where students can unwind and recharge.
Last month, we gathered to celebrate the completion of the atrium with a Grand Opening ceremony. School and district leaders, community partners, and the Class of 2025 came together to recognize everyone who contributed. A logo collage now stands in the atrium as a lasting reminder of what can be accomplished through partnership!
If you have ideas for future partnerships or dream projects, our team would love to hear from you. Send us a DM or leave a comment below!
