MCESA understands that an initiative such as STEM cannot be accomplished and sustained without the collaboration of multiple organizations that have a similar vision. This type of collaboration is known as the Collective Impact Model, and MCESA is currently working with partners such as the Arizona STEM Network, led by Science Foundation Arizona to implement this model. STEM Network’s goals to 1) Create meaningful business engagement opportunities; 2) Strengthen STEM teacher effectiveness; 3) Integrate STEM into schools and districts (in a systemic manner); and 4) Develop predictive analysis and measurable STEM education outcomes, are an important part of the collective solution to increase the quality of STEM instruction throughout Arizona.

MCESA is forming an alliance of private sector STEM Professional Mentors to provide financial and or technical support for school STEM programming. STEM Professional Mentors are community, business, and industry members that have expertise in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math, and who are committed to exposing more students to careers in these areas. If you have community/business relationships with individuals that fit this description, encourage them to consider becoming a MCESA STEM Professional Mentor by visiting www.maricopa.gov/mcesa.

MCESA is excited to partner with APS in order to spread the word about the brand new Palo Verde Energy Education Center located in the West Valley. APS has created a "one-of-a-kind facility that will allow school groups to learn more about energy and nuclear power." Teachers and students will be able to participate in hands-on learning experiences that provide them both information about energy production and consumption, as well as experiences that will help students see how they might one day work in the energy field. 

MCESA director of STEM, Dr. Jacquelyn Kelly stated, “It is exciting to see a community provide opportunities for students to realize the relevance of STEM in society.  Exploring this relevance by providing students experiences to feel confident in completing STEM tasks supports strong STEM identity development. This is important because strong STEM identity increases the likelihood of persistence in STEM courses and careers.”

Educators are invited to attend the grand opening of the Energy Education Center on December 2, 2013. For more information visit www.maricopa.gov/mcesa.

According to a recent study, metropolitan Phoenix has the highest rate of disconnected youth in the country. Youth that are not involved in school or work are much more likely to become involved in the juvenile and adult justice systems. MCESA has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to reverse this trend by reconnecting youth to their families and their communities, and by providing training and support to build the case management and evidence-based practice capacity of youth-serving agencies throughout Maricopa County. Dottie Wodraska, Director of Juvenile Transitions for MCESA states, "This award demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative efforts to leverage resources to ensure the highest quality of services for those youth and families entrusted to our collective care.”  For more information about how MCESA is working to connect youth to their families, communities, and school visit www.maricopa.gov/mcesa.

MCESA has partnered with the Maricopa County Office of Enterprise Technology to create a dynamic and powerful online community mapping tool. This tool, built on the popular Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, empowers users to search for community resources such as counseling, medical providers, mentoring services, shelters, recreational facilities, and schools within a specific geographic location. This is an invaluable free resource for educators, service providers, and juvenile justice system workers. To view the Community Mapping System, visit the GIS Community Mapping webpage.

Arizona law is catching up with two newly popular forms of smoking: electronic cigarettes and hookah. Now is a good time to review your district’s tobacco policy to see if it measures up.

This year, the Arizona State Legislature amended Title 13 Chapter 36 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to prohibit the sale of vapor products (electronic cigarettes) and shisha instruments or paraphernalia (hookah) to minors. The amendment also makes it illegal for minors to possess these products. The new provisions became effective September 2013.

School districts should update their own tobacco policies to incorporate the same elements of the law as well as to prohibit use of electronic cigarettes and hookah on campus. To view the full text of the law, visit http://1.usa.gov/17SjRIV.

Youth smoking rates in Arizona have decreased over the last few years but a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control revealed an increase in the use of electronic cigarettes by youth across the United States.

Youth are attracted to these devices, yet may not know they contain the same highly addictive nicotine found in regular cigarettes. This stimulant causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure and changes the chemistry of the brain. Preventing youth from addiction is important to their overall and long-term health.

The Maricopa County Health Department’s Office of Tobacco and Chronic Disease Prevention Program works with schools to provide prevention and education. For more information, visit http://1.usa.gov/1j2EVM5.

On Monday, December 9th at 8:30 a.m., MCESA is inviting LEAs to learn more about the Rewarding Excellence in Instruction and Leadership (REIL) program. MCESA has collaboratively developed and implemented a cohesive set of tools that serve as a foundation for a comprehensive human capital management system for teachers, instructional coaches, and principals in 14 districts. The REIL instruments and student growth measurements fulfill all requirements outlined in ARS 15-203 and the Board of Education approved Educator Effectiveness Framework. MCESA can assist your LEA with a systemic approach to teacher, leader and instructional coach evaluation, including an on-line tool for capturing observation data on one or more of the educator observation instruments, qualified and certified evaluator training, aligned professional development, and calculation of a combined score for educator effectiveness using student growth. To reserve your place contact Lucia Martinez, lmartinez@mcesa.maricopa.gov. If you are unable to attend and would like more information about our comprehensive system for evaluating educator effectiveness, please contact Shona Miranda, 602.372.0436. We look forward to learning more about how we can support your needs and address your questions.