Could your next connection create a brighter future for children in Arizona?
Summit Agenda
Event Location
Footprint Center Arena
201 E Jefferson St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Event Date
February 10, 2025, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Check In 7:30 AM
Event Start 8:00 AM
Vendor Showcase
Enjoy connecting with our sponsors, exhibitors, local partners, and winning prizes!
Showcase Director: Ramiro Alvarez, Public Information Officer, Pendergast Elementary School District
Showcase Emcee: Dondi Rodriguez, Outreach Pastor, Pure Heart Church
Sponsored by Scottsdale Bible Church
Coronado High School Marching Band, Scottsdale Unified School District
Brett Bell, Band Director
Sunnyslope High School Pom Line, Glendale Union High School District
Alexandra Hamill, English Teacher, Spiritline & Pom Line Head Coach
Kristy Siefkin, Principal, Kristy Siefkin Communications; Professional Speaker, Executive Communication and Media Coach
The Story of School Connect
Tracey Beal, Founder & CEO, School Connect
Dr. Dan Steffen, Senior Pastor, Pure Heart Church
The Genius in our Communities
Wash Covena, Staff Vice President of Commercial Verticals and Strategy, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, our Presenting Sponsor
Unlocking Your Working Genius
Tracey Beal, Founder & CEO, School Connect
The Power of Collaboration
Featuring Valley Readers & Play It Forward, sponsored by The Phoenix Suns & Phoenix Mercury Foundation
Participating Schools: Play It Forward
- Mountain View School, Washington Elementary School District
- Ignacio Conchos Elementary School, Roosevelt School District
- Villa de Paz Elementary and Copper King Elementary, Pendergast Elementary School District
- Madison Park Middle School, Madison Elementary School District
- Lowell Elementary School, Phoenix Elementary School District
Participating Schools: Valley Readers
- Alhambra Elementary School District, 13 Schools
- Laveen Elementary Schools District, 9 Schools
- Tempe Elementary School District, 10 Schools
Bridging the Gap Between Faith Communities & Schools
Dr. Dan Steffen, Senior Pastor, Pure Heart Church
Engaging The Champions in Your Neighborhood
Allie Wheeler, Superintendent, Beaver Creek School District
The Secret to Partnerships that Change Lives
Featuring GenTech & Apache Junction Unified School District
Unlock the Connections Between Education and Industry
Eric J. Rodriguez, Global Keynote Speaker, Technology Leader, Community Advocate
Rod Huston, Director of Community Education, Gilbert Public Schools
The Best Practices in Partnerships That Transform Schools, Featuring Our Superintendent Panel
Panel Facilitator: Dr. KC Somers, Superintendent, Peoria Unified School District
Superintendent Panelists:
2025 Arizona National Superintendent of the Year
Dr. Scott A. Menzel, Superintendent, Scottsdale Unified School District
2025 All Arizona Superintendent of the Year: Large District
Dr. Curtis Finch, Superintendent, Deer Valley Unified School District
2025 All Arizona Superintendent of the Year: Medium District
Dr. Barbara J. Remondini, Superintendent, Wickenburg Unified School District
2025 All Arizona Superintendent of the Year: Small District
Shanna Johnson, Superintendent, Mohawk Valley School District
The Future of Chinle
Quincy Natay, Superintendent, Chinle Unified School District
Student Performances
Sponsored by Right At School
Student Performance Soloist, Tierra Morris, 8th Grade Student, Chinle Unified School District
Keynote: Uniting Communities, Appreciating Difference & Building Resilience
Sponsored by GenTech
Chris Singleton, Inspirational Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur, Former Pro Athlete
Suite Table Conversations & Catered Lunch
Keynote Closing Remarks
Chris Singleton, Inspirational Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur, Former Pro Athlete
School Connect Champions of Education Awards Nominations Announcement
50/50 Raffle Prizes & Giveaways
Vendor Showcase Exhibitors
Closing Remarks
Kristy Siefkin, Principal, Kristy Siefkin Communications; Professional Speaker, Executive Communication and Media Coach
Event Close. 1:00 PM
Volunteer or Sponsor?
Share your voice,
expand your
influence
Join Our Village
Doing this alone is impossible; it takes all of us working together to make a difference.
Love Our Schools Day
Become a Part of Love Our Schools Day 2025
Are you a local school with a project? Love Our Schools Day is a project-based volunteer day when the community can roll up their sleeves at a local school and make a difference where it is needed most whether it is planting a garden, painting a classroom, or fixing up a playground. Complete the interest form to get involved!
Classroom to Career Workshop
You’re invited to the Classroom to Career Workshop on September 10th!
Join education and industry leaders for an experience where partnerships form, ideas flow, businesses tap into future growth and students are connected from the classroom to cutting edge career pathways!
What a great day at Desert Star School for #LoveOurSchoolsDay! Volunteers, including many students and school partners, got involved in projects all over the campus. Check it out!
#LoveOurSchoolsDay is in full swing, and this weekend is extra special because it overlaps with #MakeADifferenceDay!
Check out the #volunteeropportunities happening this weekend at schools across Arizona:
💛 Alta Loma Elementary School (Oct-25): Brick wall painting, campus clean up
💛 Apache Elementary School (Oct-25): Patriotic paint project, habitat cleanup
💛 Chaparral Elementary School (Oct-25): Beautify campus, general clean-up
💛 Cheyenne Elementary School (Oct-25): Teacher card drive, trunk or treat
💛 Country Place Leadership Academy (Oct-25): Paint mural, Leader In Me project
💛 Desert Harbor Elementary School (Oct-25): Wall washing, campus cleaning
💛 Desert Valley Elementary School (Oct-25): Campus beautification
💛 Edison School of Innovation (Oct-25): Plant citrus trees, beautify outdoors
💛 Freeman Fine Arts Academy (Oct-25): Garden, rock painting project
💛 Ira A. Murphy Elementary School (Oct-25): Paint bathrooms, campus cleaning
💛 Marshall Ranch Elementary School (Oct-25): Clean trophies, campus clean-up
💛 MET Professional Academy (Oct-25): Plant planters, campus beautification
💛 Paseo Hills School (Oct-25): Furnish a caring closet for students
💛 Peoria High School (Oct-25): Campus beautification, staff appreciation
💛 Pioneer Elementary School (Oct-25): Clean Angel Closet, paint benches
💛 Rio Vista Elementary School (Oct-25): Create sensory path for students
💛 Sahuaro Ranch Elementary School (Oct-25): Clean desks, write thank you notes
💛 Sky View Elementary School (Oct-25): Campus beautification, window cleaning
💛 Tres Rios Service Academy (Oct-25): Create playground peace path
💛 Zuni Hills Elementary School (Oct-25): Sweep parking lot, campus cleanup
Want to lend a hand to support #ArizonaEducation? We`d love to have you join in! Find the sign-up link in our bio.
Last weekend, more than 1,000 volunteers came together to support schools for #LoveOurSchoolsDay! One of those schools was in the Washington Elementary School District, where Shea Duryea got to see a garden project in action. What a fun day!
Want to be part of the #LoveOurSchoolsDay fun?
There`s still time to sign up to volunteer! (Link in bio)
#ArizonaEducation #VolunteerOpportunities
Schools across Arizona are hosting #LoveOurSchoolsDay + #MakeADifferenceDay this Saturday, October 25... and we`d love to invite you to join us!
Check out our website via the link in our bio to find out about #volunteeropportunities in your area!
Last week, more than 1,000 volunteers supported schools across Arizona for Love Our Schools Day!! Wow!
This season is a reminder...
When we serve side by side on Love Our Schools Day—educators, parents, students, business leaders, faith groups, nonprofits, and neighbors—we’re not just improving school facilities...
We’re building a village of support around every child!
#LoveOurSchoolsDay #ArizonaEducation #VolunteerOpportunities
