MEDIA CONTACT:
Lindsay Hansen
C: 480.205.6195
lindsay@ldhconsulting.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 9th, 2023
PHOENIX, Ariz. – ElevateEdAZ, an initiative of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation is proud to announce its expansion into the Peoria Unified School District. ElevateEdAZ is focused on preparing students in the Greater Phoenix region for college and career by aligning education to workforce learning pathways to serve the needs of Arizona’s leading industries. The goal of these efforts is to help Valley business owners meet the growing workforce demand as more high-wage, high-demand employers expand in and relocate to Arizona.
“Peoria Unified is proud to partner with ElevateEdAZ to enhance our work that increases opportunities for students to move into high-demand, high-wage career pathways. Our educators have been providing Peoria Unified students with extensive work-based learning opportunities with local partners, but ElevateEdAZ will accelerate these connections to build upon our network,” said, Acting Superintendent of Peoria Unified School District, Kevin Molino. “Additionally, externships for our educators will allow them to stay current on industry trends and expand their skill set, all for the benefit of our students.”
Expanding ElevateEdAZ to Peoria Unified brings the number of participating schools to 20 throughout the Greater Phoenix region. The expansion will impact over 12,000 students and teachers through access to work-based learning engagements, job shadows, internships, externships, mock interviews, and more.
This past year ElevateEdAZ had…
- 70+ students participate in internships
- 600+ students participate in job shadows
- 160+ educators participate in Virtual Educator Externship experiences to provide close to 36,000 students with career-connected learning.
- 11 Regional Business Advisory Councils support 15 Career and Technical Education programs with employer guidance
- Engaged with 130+ businesses to provide students and educators with work-based learning opportunities
ElevateEdAZ is continuously working with schools and school districts to increase the number of students completing high-wage, high-demand career pathways, provide more students with work-based learning experiences, increase attainment of industry-recognized credentials and postsecondary credit through dual enrollment, and empower educators to reimage classroom learning through externships to teach students relevant workplace skills. By expanding to Peoria Unified, ElevateEdAZ will provide more students with access to opportunities that will prepare them for college and career.
“We are pleased to partner with Peoria Unified to expand the reach of ElevateEdAZ and better prepare students for college and career,” said Jennifer Mellor, chief innovation officer, Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation. “Providing students exposure to different career pathways and opportunities to gain real-world experience is essential for students striving to secure high-wage, high-demand careers.”
To learn more about becoming a business partner with ElevateEdAZ, visit www.elevateedaz.com/business and complete the ElevateEdAZ Businesses Partner Form. For more information on engaging your business, please contact our business partnership team at partnerships@elevateedaz.com.
Jennifer Mellor, chief innovation officer for the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, and Todd Sanders, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation are available for media interviews.
About ElevateEdAZ
Launched in 2020, ElevateEdAZ prepares individuals for college and career through stronger alignment between education, business, and the community. ElevateEdAZ is focused on increasing the number of students completing high-quality education to workforce learning pathways that align with the needs of the industry and supports students in completing industry- credentials, attaining early post-secondary credit, and participating in capstone work-based learning experiences, such as internships and job shadows. For more information, visit https://elevateedaz.com.
About the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation convenes and catalyzes business, education, and community to enhance college and career readiness, develop a more robust workforce, and build healthier communities throughout Arizona. The Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, leads the charitable and education initiatives of the Greater Phoenix Chamber under the four pillars of education, workforce development, wellness, and research. For more information, visit https://phoenixchamberfoundation.com.
Follow Online:
Twitter: @ElevateEdAZ
Instagram: @elevateedaz
Facebook: @elevateedaz
LinkedIn: ElevateEdAZ
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