Assisting rural schools, teachers and students to achieve the higher academic standards.
Rural and Remote Initiative
As the result of a recent survey given to all public school superintendents, principals and teachers in Arizona’s rural counties, SFAz has identified short term, stopgap actions to provide teachers the tools they need to improve academic achievement and develop the necessary STEM skill.
Starting in the fall of 2013, SFAz began a three-year Rural and Remote Initiative. It will begin with a focus on Navajo and Apache Counties as areas of greatest need but will include programs available to all 13 counties.
Initial action will include providing:
- Basic supplies and equipment to teachers for classrooms
- Professional development for teachers to further enhance their hands-on and interactive classroom skills in the areas of math and science
- Common planning time allowing teachers to share their curriculums and coordinate lessons
- Afterschool programs with a focus on science, mathematics and robotics
As the teacher responses in the documents below show, resources need to be dedicated to these 13 counties quickly, in addition to continuing support for the urban counties. We are asking individual philanthropists, trusts, foundations, and corporations to join us in investing to ensure an educated workforce that maintains America’s competitiveness.
Background and Additional Information
