Arizona K12 Center at Northern Arizona University

Welcome to Dr. Quintin Boyce and Brian Capistran, the two new members on our board of directors!

Dr. Quintin Boyce fills the board seat designated for a representative from Arizona State University. Dr. Boyce is the associate vice president of outreach with Educational Outreach and Student Services at ASU, leading K-12 school partnerships. Originally from Chicago, he has been deeply committed to the field of education since 2002 and previously worked in Phoenix Union High School District and Roosevelt School District.

Brian Capistran fills the board seat reserved for a representative from the Arizona School Administrators. Capistran is the superintendent of Glendale Union High School District and serving this year as president of the Arizona School Administrators. He has dedicated his career to serving the Glendale Union High School District community, making significant contributions as a teacher and leader.

We look forward to a great year ahead with the board, kicking off next week with our first board meeting of the school year!

If you haven’t already heard, the Arizona K12 Center has a new look! We’re celebrating 25 years and a bright future of continuing to serve Arizona’s educators!

Read more about this next chapter through the link below.

We've got a new look! Meet the new Arizona K12 Center. To celebrate 25 years of serving Arizona’s educators and our exciting future, the Arizona K12 Center is getting a new look! You’ll see our fresh appearance at events, in emails, and on social media — and other upgrades are on the way! But this next chapter is about more than that.

The first event of this year's Beginning Teacher Series kicks off soon. Join us as we welcome the very engaging Dr. Marcia Tate, author and leader in brain-based teaching, to learn strategies for managing an active, brain-compatible classroom without ever raising your voice.

Deadline to register is September 10:

www.azk12.org

Congratulations to these top five teachers in the running for the 2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year!

🎉 We have EXCELLENT news! 🎉 We have named the five finalists under consideration for the 2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year® Award!!

These five finalists, known as Ambassadors of Excellence, are in the running for Arizona Teacher of the Year, which will be announced during the 2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony on October 19th, 2024, presented by Desert Financial Credit Union.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

🔹 Torunn “Tori” Anderson (10th-11th grade English Language Arts), Carl Hayden High School, Phoenix Union High School District

🔹 Jodian Brown (4th grade Reading, Math & Science), Desert View Intermediate School Bobcats, Page Unified School District

🔹 Emmett Burnton (AP World History, U.S. History Dual Enrollment), Boulder Creek High School, Deer Valley Unified School District

🔹 Ryan Donovan (AP U.S. History), Boulder Creek High School, Deer Valley Unified School District

🔹 Jennifer Spector (5th grade English Language Arts & Social Studies), Desert View Elementary, Washington Elementary School District

All fifteen outstanding educators will be honored at the awards ceremony on October 19, 2024, where the winner will be revealed live onstage! Get your tickets today: https://ow.ly/Ghtk50T9oYc

Read more about all of our wonderful finalists at https://ow.ly/F4uN50T9oYb

Arizona NBCTs, just a couple weeks left to apply for the Arizona K12 Center's coaching team for National Board Coaching Saturdays this school year!

For the 2024-2025 cycle, we will offer Coaching Saturdays in Phoenix, Tucson, and through Zoom. Interested coaches can apply for one or more locations and be compensated with $250 per date.

Learn more and apply at https://forms.gle/MBGAMtwGYKKCSpfb8 by September 13!

Arizona NBCTs, now is the time to join our coaching team for the Arizona K12 Center's National Board Coaching Saturdays this school year!

For the 2024-2025 cycle, we will offer Coaching Saturdays in Phoenix, Tucson, and through Zoom. Interested coaches can apply for one or more locations and be compensated with $250 per date. Applications and letters of recommendation are due by September 13, 2024.

Learn more and apply at https://forms.gle/MBGAMtwGYKKCSpfb8 or email Program Director Donnie at [email protected] with any questions.

It's time for ♫Pomp and Circumstance♫ for 34 educators who completed Cognitive Coaching Foundations today! Thank you to Flagstaff Unified School District for hosting us these eight days of training. This cohort featured teachers from across northern Arizona and a couple from Tucson!

Our fall Cognitive Coaching Foundations is already full but there are still seats available in our spring cohort: azk12.org/25CCSpring

Yesterday, we hosted our first virtual meeting of a "Component 3 Cohort," a group of National Board Certification candidates meeting monthly to focus on the "video component" of the process.

Component 3 requires video footage showing your engagement with students and written commentary that describes, analyzes, and reflects on your teaching and interactions with students.

If you've been considering National Board Certification, know that we are here to support you! Learn about and prepare for the process through our next National Board Pre-Candidacy Class, starting in February. Register at: azk12.org/precan

Is your district formally integrating AI this school year?

The Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy, led by Dr. Chad Gestson, has posed a challenge for school systems working with AI. Read the details at the link below. School systems that complete the three-part challenge will be in the running for a free AI-focused professional learning session!

Artificial intelligence challenge | College of Education We’re supporting schools with AI implementation through guidance and training. Complete our “must-do” tasks within the first three months of the school year!

If you're a mentor or coach in your school district, our upcoming Mentor Institute is for you! Utilizing the New Teacher Center philosophy and model, this four-day training focuses on instructional mentoring, observation and conferencing, using data to inform instruction, and designing effective instruction based on the learning needs of students, all aligned to specifically meet the needs of Arizona teachers and mentors.

Hurry... registration closes August 23! azk12.org/MentorInst

BONUS: you get to learn from the amazing Michelle Bugh Doherty and Joshua Meibos

If you or someone you know is a K-12 Title 1 school teacher in our service territory, there’s still time to enter. Winners will receive a $500 gift card to buy classroom supplies. aps.com/supplymyclass

Congratulations to these outstanding Arizona educators!

🏅 Big News, Arizona! 💜💚💙 The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®) is thrilled to announce the 15 exceptional candidates for the 2025 AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year Award, proudly presented by Desert Financial for the fifth consecutive year! 🌟

This year, AEF received a whopping 625 nominations from across the state! So, what's next for these extraordinary educators?

The five Quarterfinalists will receive an "Honorable Mention," an automatic nomination for next year, and special gifts from AEF. The ten Semifinalists will advance to an in-person interview round with the selection committee.

All fifteen outstanding educators will be honored at the awards ceremony on October 19, 2024, where the winner will be revealed live onstage!

THE TEN SEMIFINALISTS:

🔹 Torunn “Tori” Anderson (10th-11th grade English Language Arts), Carl Hayden High School, Phoenix Union High School District

🔹 Jodian Brown (4th grade Reading, Math & Science), Desert View Elementary School, Page Unified School District

🔹 Emmett Burnton (AP World History, U.S. History Dual Enrollment), Boulder Creek High School, Deer Valley Unified School District

🔹 Ryan Donovan (AP U.S. History), Boulder Creek High School, Deer Valley Unified School District

🔹 Noel Craver (5th grade General Education), Cottonwood Elementary School, Vail School District

🔹 Jenni Feidler-Aguilar (PreK-6th grade Visual Art), Gilbert Elementary School, The Official Gilbert Public Schools District

🔹 Kayce Kahl (5th grade General Education), Clarendon Elementary, Osborn School District

🔹 Katie Krause (4th-5th grade General Education), Marshall Magnet Elementary School, Flagstaff Unified School District

🔹 Laura Pina (Grades 2nd-6th English Language Development), Homer Davis Elementary School, Flowing Wells Unified School District

🔹 Jennifer Spector (5th grade English Language Arts & Social Studies), Desert View Elementary, Washington Elementary School District

THE HONORABLE MENTION QUARTERFINALISTS

🔹 Martha Celia Alonso (Principles of Biomedical Science CTE), Douglas High School, Douglas Unified School District 27

🔹 Lara Cox (K-6th Physical Education), Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary, Queen Creek Unified School District

🔹 Kristy Davis (Kindergarten General Education), Madison Camelview Elementary, Madison Elementary School District

🔹 Caitlyn Ferell (10th-12th grade English), Flowing Wells High School, Flowing Wells Unified School District

🔹 Danielle Rutherford (9th-12th grade Visual Art & Student Council), Sahuarita High School, Sahuarita Unified School District #30

Get ready to cheer them on and join us in this joyous celebration of Arizona's incredible teachers! 🎉 For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://bit.ly/AZTOY-Tickets. 🥳

Many of those on the Arizona K12 Center Board of Directors were busy over the summer, including Jason Catanese who founded and runs Camp Catanese, a program that prepares and supports hundreds of underserved students in reaching their college and career goals. Congratulations, Jason, on another great summer of Camp Catanese!

Jason is also a teacher in Isaac School District No. 5 and a member of both the Center's board and the Arizona State Board of Education.

Teachers, Arizona Public Service - APS is providing $500 gift cards to help you supply your classroom! Enter at aps.com/SupplyMyClass before August 11!

📢 OPPORTUNITY ALERT! 📢

Teachers from Title 1 Schools in the Arizona Public Service Territory are invited to apply to the Arizona Public Service - APS Supply My Class program between July 8 – August 11. Winning teachers will receive $500 for their classroom! 🏫📚✨

Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your classroom resources! Apply now and make a difference for your students.

ABOR, NAU, 20 Arizona school districts form coalition to redesign high school The Arizona Board of Regents, Northern Arizona University and several school districts are forming a coalition to redesign high school.

✏️📒 This is how we prepare for Back to School ✏️📒
The Arizona Teachers Academy Mentors have spent the past 2.5 days training in Sedona, getting ready to head into classrooms across the state to mentor first-year teachers. This team of dedicated and experienced education professionals will support the bridge for Northern Arizona University College of Education graduates from the NAU classroom into their very own.

Arizona NBCTs, now is the time to join our coaching team for the Arizona K12 Center's National Board Coaching Saturdays this school year!

For the 2024-2025 cycle, we will offer Coaching Saturdays in Phoenix, Tucson, and through Zoom. Interested coaches can apply for one or more locations and be compensated with $250 per date. Applications and letters of recommendation are due by September 13, 2024.

Learn more and apply at https://forms.gle/MBGAMtwGYKKCSpfb8 or email Program Director Donnie at [email protected] with any questions.

What do you keep in mind when setting up your classroom?

This is just a sampling of tips on our blog post about setting up your classroom. Find that blog post and other back-to-school guidance at azk12.org/homeroom AZteachers

It's hard to believe, but it's already that time of year! As you're thinking about all the things to have ready for back-to-school, we have a checklist to help guide you.

Your Complete Back-to-School Checklist - Arizona K12 Center Before we know it, summer break will be over, and the fall semester will be in full swing. Don’t get caught off guard and leave yourself scrambling around to prepare. Use our back-to-school checklist to start preparing now.

🏫This week, our socials are focusing on K-12 Decision Making and the resources we have to understand it better! 💡What's the difference between the State, County & Local Superintendents? Who has say in academic & financial decisions at your school district? The responsibility chart for public schools can be confusing... but it doesn't have to be. 📈

Along with the Arizona K12 Center at Northern Arizona University , we've created a graphic to see who does what in Arizona K-12 Public Education. Find it at the link below!
https://www.azk12.org/media/kfepzbdq/k-12_decision-making_flyer-v7.pdf

We had the honor of hearing from Rebecka Peterson at our There's A Reason I'm A Teacher Conference for Northern Arizona University College of Education's pre-service teachers. An experience from that day is included in her reflection as National Teacher of the Year!

Northern Arizona University

In her end-of-year reflection, 2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson reminds us why it is important to find “One Good Thing” in each day.

Read more here: https://ntoy.ccsso.org/my-forever-good-thing/.

(📸: Courtesy of NEA)

Thank you to everyone who joined us for !! We ended today with a final session with Dr. Marsha on how healthy teachers make happy classrooms, hearing from NBCTs Sara Wyffels and Josh Meibos about National Board Certification, and an inspirational message from 2022 National Teacher of the Year Kurt Russell about the power of embracing each student as an individual.

See you next June at the 5th Annual ATA Beginning Teacher Institute!

Another great day at ! This second day of the 4th Annual ATA Beginning Teacher Institute featured hearing from Rachel Martinez, who just completed her first day of teaching (Tolleson Elementary School District), breakouts with some fantastic teacher leaders, including from the Learning Scientists and Teacher Created Materials, and a general session with Dr. Marcia Tate on proactive classroom management strategies. Attendees could then sample a virtual field trip experience with Act One.

Tomorrow is our final day together with more than 200+ Arizona beginning teachers and mentors!

The ATA Beginning Teacher Institute is annual event through Arizona Teachers Academy, a program of the Arizona Board of Regents.

Thank you to the amazing choice session facilitators at the 19th Annual Teacher Leadership Institute.... just a few pictures here. We loved learning and growing with you this week. Looking forward to amplifying excellence back in our communities!

It's the last day of the 19th Annual Teacher Leadership Institute and we're kicking off our learning with a teacher leader spotlight from Jessie McKinley. After 17 years teaching music, teacher leader Jessie pivoted to becoming a STEAM specialist. Jessie now helps students see themselves as engineers and scientists through hands-on and learner-directed lessons at Madison Camelview Elementary in the Madison Elementary School District. He is an enthusiastic lifelong learner who is advancing STEAM learning in his classroom and across his district.

Amplifying Excellence: Jessie McKinley After 17 years teaching music, teacher leader Jessie McKinley pivoted to becoming a STEAM specialist. Jessie now helps students see themselves as engineers a...

What a phenomenal first day of the 4th Annual ATA Beginning Teacher Institute!! We started the day with Drum Cafe North America who ramped up the energy and got us all on rhythm! host Sara Wyffels, NBCT, helped us think about what goals we may want to “drum out” this next school year, and Arizona K12 Center Executive Director Daniela Robles, NBCT, and Josh Meibos, NBCT, welcomed everyone and spoke to the power of this profession. Dr. Marcia Tate then led everyone through great learning about classroom engagement strategies, before signing copies of her book “Healthy Teachers, Happy Classrooms.” We can’t wait for day two tomorrow, which also overlaps with the final day of the 19th Annual Teacher Leadership Institute! Check out more highlights of the day in our stories!

More than 200 new Arizona teachers and educators who support new teachers are with us this week at the ATA Beginning Teacher Institute — a part of the Arizona Teachers Academy program through the Arizona Board of Regents.

Day Two at the 19th Annual Teacher Leadership Institute brings us knowledge and inspiration from teacher leader spotlight Rebecca Oravec, NBCT. Rebecca unites a passion for art, brain science, and the power of student agency in her teacher leadership. She helps her students explore their expression and creativity in her art class and club at Wrightson Ridge K-8 in the Sahuarita Unified School District #30. As a teacher leader, she also provides professional development for teachers across the state, including helping them process and retain learning through her accordion book workshops.

Amplifying Excellence: Rebecca Oravec, NBCT Rebecca Oravec, NBCT, unites a passion for art, brain science, and the power of student agency in her teacher leadership. She helps her students explore thei...

What a day! The first day of the 19th Annual Teacher Leadership Institute was truly amazing. We heard from Erika Pora Chapman, NBCT in Nadaburg Unified School District No. 81 and Dr. Jill Harrison Berg, leadership coach and author, in the morning. Then, participants attended choice breakout sessions led by the Arizona TeacherSolutions Team in the afternoon. We are looking forward to what Day Two will bring tomorrow!

At the 19th Annual Teacher Leadership Institute, we will hear spotlight stories from three amazing Arizona educators.

First up, is Erika Chapman, NBCT from Nadaburg Unified School District No. 81. She worked in the district as a self-contained classroom teacher of students with mild to moderate disabilities for 14 years before becoming the district's school psychologist in her district. For 2023-2024, she also continued teaching and working as the district's special education coordinator. Her care for not only students but their families is at the foundation of her work as a teacher leader.

Amplifying Excellence: Erika Chapman, NBCT Erika Chapman, NBCT, worked in Nadaburg Unified School District as a self-contained classroom teacher of students with mild to moderate disabilities for 14 y...

Last call to register for the 4th Annual Beginning Teacher Institute!

Made especially for those newest to the profession, this June 25-27 event will feature Dr. Marcia Tate, Drum Cafe USA, and teacher leaders ready to engage with Arizona's beginning teachers!

4th Annual ATA Beginning Teacher Institute The ATA Beginning Teacher Institute is a professional learning opportunity for all Arizona teachers preparing for their first, second, or third year in the classroom.