to build a brighter future

Summit Agenda

Pre-Show. 8:00 – 8:30 AM

Student Performance.
Tolleson Elementary Mariachi Band | Los Tigres de Tolleson, Students, Tolleson Elementary School District

Efrain Casillas, Band Director, Tolleson Elementary Mariachi Band: Los Tigres de Tolleson, Tolleson Elementary School District

Event Start. 8:30 AM

Tickets and Registration

Master of Ceremonies.

Sara Wyffels, NBCT, Honors Spanish 3, IB/AP Spanish 4, 2021 Arizona Teacher of the Year, World Language Department Chair, Chandler High School

Welcome.
School Connect’s Vision for the Future

Tracey Beal
Founder and CEO
School Connect

The Power of Student Innovation.

Brian E. Mueller
President
Grand Canyon University

Keynote.
The Story of Strategic Change for Chinle

Quincy Natay
Superintendent
Chinle Unified School District

Table Discussion 1.
Impacting Change in Your Organization

The Laveen Community.
Strategic Collaboration

Dr. Jeff Sprout
Superintendent
Laveen Elementary School District

Dr. Joe Roselle
Community Engagement Coordinator
Laveen Elementary School District

Megan Hamburgh
Principal
Rogers Ranch School

What is the CAFÉ Model?

Tracey Beal
Founder and CEO
School Connect

Micah C. Nicholas
Love Our Schools CAFE Coordinator
United Way of Acadiana

Leadership Institute of Faith and Education.

Dr. Irvin Leon Scott
Senior Lecturer on Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education

The Golden Rule Celebration.
The Power of Interfaith Councils

Dr. Jim Dean
Superintendent
Dysart Schools

ACE Mentoring.

Pendergast Students.
Hands on STEM Innovation

MET Professional Academy Panel.
Where Industry and Education Join Forces to Change the Future

Panel Facilitator:
Chad Eichenlaub, MET Professional Academy Coordinator, Peoria Unified School District

Student Panel:

  • Abigail Urbina-Bernal, Student, MET Professional Academy
  • Joshua Case, Student, MET Professional Academy
  • Lucas Szokol, Student, MET Professional Academy

Table Discussion 2.
How My Organization Creates Student Pathways Into Our Industry

ASU Next Education Workforce Panel.
Team Teaching: A Student-Centered Approach

Panel Facilitator:
Laura Toenjes, Superintendent, Kyrene School District

Panel Members:

  • Dr. Lisa McCray Cannon, Senior Program Manager | Whole School Models, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University 
  • Korbi Adams, Senior Program Manager | Community Educator Initiatives, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
  • Sharisse Nunes, Lead Teacher | 5th Grade, Falcon Hill Elementary School, Mesa Public Schools

Arena Wide Networking Activity.
Connections That Matter

Facilitation
The Be Kind Crew
The Be Kind People Project

Be Kind Buddy Benches.
Creating Spaces for Connection

Performance
The Be Kind Crew
The Be Kind People Project

Sierra’s Story.
Empathy That Empowers

Tracey Beal
Founder and CEO
School Connect

Keynote.
The Connection Between Empathy and Innovation

Dr. Quintin Boyce
Associate Vice President | Educational Outreach
Arizona State University

Superintendent Panel.
The Future We Share

Panel Facilitator:
Dr. Perry Berry, Superintendent, Queen Creek Unified School District

Panel Members:

  • Dr. Lupita Ley Hightower, Treasure Hunter and Arizona Superintendent of the Year 2022, Tolleson Elementary School District
  • Dr. David Dumon, Superintendent and ASA’s All Arizona Superintendent Small District 2021, Altar Valley School District
  • Dr. Gregory Wyman, Superintendent and ASA’s All Arizona Superintendent Medium District 2022, J.O. Combs Unified School District
  • Brian Capistran, Superintendent and ASA’s All Arizona Superintendent Large District 2022, Glendale Union High School District

Special Gift and Student Affirmation.

Tracey Beal
Founder and CEO
School Connect

Dr. Lupita Hightower
Superintendent
Tolleson Elementary School District

Event Close. 12:30 PM

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Latest Podcast

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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