Arizona SciTech, the state’s leading innovator and proponent of STEM education, announces the launch of a joint initiative between hi-tech businesses, community members, educators, students and parents to create the first ever AZ STEM School Community of Practice.

A Community of Practice is based upon the latest business strategy, where various stakeholders come together; they understand that knowledge is an asset that can be shared for the greater good.

These cross-stakeholder teams help each other, share information, build relationships and learn from one another. Teams then leverage their collective existing knowledge to design innovative solutions to the problems and challenges they have identified.

Arizona SciTech along with Intel, Arizona Science Center and the Maricopa Education Service Agency are leading the initiative as part of a STEM ecosystem within the STEM Funders Network.

The first cohort of schools to be accepted into the new AZ STEM School Community of Practice consists of 57 forward-thinking, creative schools dedicated to sharing best practices and finding solutions to educate Arizona’s youths in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

School teams across Arizona, each with representation from community and industry, school leadership, educators, teachers and students, will help each other, share information, build relationships and learn from one another.  Broader matters to address will be identified by the participants to collaborate and design innovative solutions to the problems and challenges of educating Arizona’s youths in the field of STEM; to prepare them to meet the high tech needs of the future.

“We anticipated the first cohort would be made up of 20 school teams. We are proud to announce 57 teams from 26 districts have affirmed their commitment to join. This overwhelming response confirms the interest and passion of Arizona Schools for STEM education and their desire to work collaboratively to transform our STEM ecosystem,” said Jeremy Babendure, PhD, executive director of AZ SciTech.

The kickoff meeting for AZ STEM School Community of Practice will take place at the SRP Pera Club (1 East Continental Drive, Tempe) on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Schools involved:

  • Agua Fria High School District
  • Verrado High School
  • Amphitheater Unified School District
  • Lulu Walker Elementary School
  • Avondale Elementary School District
  • Centerra Mirage STEM Academy
  • Copper Trails School
  • Michael Anderson School
  • Cave Creek Unified School District
  • Desert Sun Academy
  • Chandler Unified School District
  • Andersen Elementary School
  • Arizona College Preparatory Oakland Campus
  • Basha High School
  • Chandler High School
  • Conley Elementary School
  • Frye Elementary School
  • Hamilton High School
  • Weinberg Elementary School
  • Creighton Elementary School District
  • William T. Machan Elementary School
  • Deer Valley Unified School District
  • Canyon Springs STEM Academy
  • Legend Springs Elementary School
  • Sandra Day O’Connor High School
  • Sierra Verde STEM Academy
  • West Wing School
  • Dysart Unified School District
  • Canyon Ridge School
  • Thompson Ranch Elementary School
  • Fort Huachuca Unified School District
  • Colonel Smith Middle School
  • Gilbert Public Schools
  • Patterson Elementary School
  • Glendale Elementary School District
  • Discovery Elementary School
  • Higley Elementary School District
  • Bridges Elementary School
  • Isaac Elementary School District
  • Alta E. Butler Elementary School
  • Morris K. Udall Middle School
  • Moya Elementary School
  • Littleton Elementary School District
  • Estrella Vista Elementary School
  • Madison Elementary School District
  • Madison Park Middle School
  • Marana Unified School District
  • Coyote Elementary School
  • Quail Run Elementary School
  • Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary School
  • Twin Peaks Elementary School
  • Mesa Public Schools
  • Mendoza Elementary School
  • Red Mountain High School
  • Sirrine Elementary School
  • Paradise Valley Unified School District
  • Desert Shadows Elementary School
  • Fireside Elementary School
  • Phoenix Elementary School District
  • Kenilworth School
  • Queen Creek Unified School District
  • Gateway Polytechnic Academy
  • Queen Creek Middle School
  • Roosevelt Elementary School District
  • Bernard Black Elementary School
  • Saddle Mountain Unified School District
  • Tartesso Elementary School
  • Scottsdale Unified School District
  • Navajo Elementary School
  • Tempe Elementary School District
  • Fees College Preparatory Middle School
  • Tolleson Elementary School District
  • Tolleson Union High School District
  • University High School
  • Washington Elementary School District
  • Orangewood Elementary School

Individual Schools (Charter and Private)  

  • Brophy College Preparatory
  • Gilbert Arts Academy
  • Grande Innovation Academy
  • Imagine West Gilbert
  • Sonoran Schools
  • SySTEM Phoenix
  • Western School of Science and Technology