
Champion Sponsors
Because every child deserves a champion, we honor those who have courageously made a difference for Arizona youth
Why We Celebrate Our Brightest Stars of Arizona Education
Watch what these leaders have to say about Arizona’s Champions of Education Awards. Join the champion sponsors who make this important event possible.

Changemaker Award
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.
Catalyst for Education Award
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.
Hero Maker Award
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.

Student Champion of the Year Award
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.
Collaborative Leadership Award
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.
Because It Takes A Village Award
This school has built a diverse network of community partners to support the school, students, and families in its community.
School Champion of the Year Award
This person has become a trusted partner of the school principal and the community.
Become A Sponsor!
Sponsorship opportunities for the School Connect Awards 2025 are now available.
Join Our Village
Doing this alone is impossible; it takes all of us working together to make a difference.
School Connect Summit 2025

Join the School Connect Summit 2025 to unlock your genius and discover how much your leadership matters to the future we create together. At this one-of-a-kind leadership summit, you will gather with representatives from business, education, faith, nonprofit, and government entities to connect, learn, and strategize for unified community action. Speakers, seating assignments, and conversation topics are designed to help leaders connect their efforts through the school system to maximize reach and influence for positive change.
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!
Meet our 2025 School finalists for the "Because It Takes a Village" Award!
These Schools, led by their innovative, bridge-building principals, have excelled at creating a diverse network of community partners to support their schools, students, and families in their community.
They are...
Black Mountain Elementary School, Led by Principal Matt Owsley, @cavecreekusd93
Ira A. Murphy Elementary School, Led by Principal Reginna Lewis, @peoriaunified11
Sheely Farms Elementary School, Led by Principal Rebecca Ford, @tollesonesd
Join us in celebrating these schools on May 1st at the 2025 Champions of Education Awards! (Link in comments)
#Arizona #Education #SchoolConnectAwards

Inspiration alert! This year, the @suns @phoenixmercury Foundation partnered with Arizona schools to encourage student reading through the Valley Readers Program.
Check out this impact!
💥📚💥 Over 20,000 students tracked an incredible 9,638,457 reading minutes, with an average of 8 hours per student!
💪 💪 Older students earned double points for reading to younger peers, logging 500,000 mentorship minutes.
Imagine being in a room filled with hundreds of energetic students celebrating their love for reading alongside their favorite teams...
That`s exactly what happened at assemblies across the state!
☄️ ☄️ The Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation brought the heat with players, coaches, and mascots joining in with prizes, dance competitions, and celebration. It was so heartwarming to see students meet their heroes and read along with them!
But this program wasn`t just about reading; it was about leadership, building a community that values service, and helping students reach for their dreams.
As we celebrate Volunteer Month, we`re reminded that powerful partnerships like those with the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation are paving the way for Valley Readers! 🔥🙌
#Partnership #Education #Arizona #Read #Books #Mentorship #VolunteerMonth #phxoffcourt #literacy #schoolconnect

Now announcing our Superintendent Changemaker Award finalists for the 2025 Champions of Education Awards!
These are superintendents celebrated by their communities and have been nominated for taking a stand as leaders and bringing innovative solutions to their entire district.
They are...
Dr. Cecilia Maes, Superintendent, @alhambraesd
Jay Mann, Superintendent, @creighton_school_district
Dr. Robert Pappalardo, Superintendent, @ajusd43
Will you join us in celebrating these change makers on May 1st?
Special thanks to our superintendent sponsor, @chasse.us, for sponsoring this award!
#Arizona #Education #Superintendent #SchoolConnectAwards

Revealing more finalists for the 2025 Champions of Education Awards!
Over the next couple of weeks, we`ll be revealing our finalists leading up to our awards event on May 1st... all the amazing leaders and community builders you nominated!
Next up, our finalists for the School Champion Awards - leaders who have become trusted partners for school principals and their communities.
They are...
Denise Hawk, School Champion, @avondaleesd
Gil Nisleit, School Champion, @centralchristianaz
Laura Roman, School Champion, @azgivingrealtor
Will you join us in celebrating these School Champions at our awards event on May 1st?
#Arizona #Education #SchoolConnectAwards

Who`s ready to see some of our finalists for the 2025 Champions of Education Awards?!
Over the next couple of weeks leading up to our awards event on May 1st, we`ll be revealing our finalists... all the amazing leaders and community builders YOU nominated!
First up, our finalists for the Hero Maker Award...
These are teachers who have built trust, modeled resilience, and cultivated leadership in others to influence hope for the future.
They are...
Sara Daffe, Teacher, @madison_az
Emily Emhart, Teacher, @avondaleesd
Melissa France, Teacher, @fesd.no45
Amy Wicks, Teacher, @peoriaunified11
Will you join us in celebrating these hero makers?
Special thanks to our Hero Maker Sponsors, @gentechsupport Tech Support and Kairos Health, for sponsoring this award.
#Arizona #Education #SchoolConnectAwards
