Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

Mentoring Programs

SALT RIVER PROJECT & SOUTH MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

The mentoring program focuses on students in honors classes who, according to teachers, are most at risk of experiencing failure. These students have great potential, but many fall through the cracks of the educational system because of a lack of positive adult support. Mentors provide this support by offering friendship, tracking down scholarships, monitoring grades, troubleshooting classroom problems, tutoring and providing a window into the world of work. Mentors team with students until they graduate and in many cases well into students' college careers as well. After three years, the results are a 100% graduation rate and college enrollment of seniors.



Professional Development

MOTOROLA & CAMELBACK HIGH SCHOOL

The Camelback/Motorola/Northern Trust Partnership is unique in its process approach and its systemic rather than event orientation to long term school improvement. Networking and leveraging resources are primary modes of operation. The partnership's focus is on four specific areas: curriculum, student achievement, training and public relations. Industry partners provide funding to defray the cost of some of these activities. However, the significance of the partnership goes far beyond the monetary aspect. The partnership is successful because students, faculty, and industry work together to implement many meaningful activities that supplement classroom experience and prepare students for life after Camelback High School.

MOTOROLA & CREIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

What practices focusing on quality in business and industry can have a positive impact on how schools function? What strategies can teachers use to help students understand processes and new concepts while developing a team approach to problem solving? Teachers and the principal at Creighton School entered the Ambassador Program with Motorola this year to answer these questions. The Creighton Ambassadors spent four weeks observing practical approaches to team-oriented problem solving. And what did the Creighton team learn? How to implement: Mission and Vision, Customer Satisfaction, 6 Sigma Quality Control, 10 X reduction in errors and time, Team Building, Problem Solving Strategies, Benchmarking, Process Analysis and Evaluation.



Technology

AG COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS & ESPERANZA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The idea for a partnership began with the positive experience of AG Communication Systems' president as a "Principal For a Day" at Esperanza. Recognizing Esperanza Elementary as a school where there was both a need and a desire for a partnership, AG Communication Systems granted Esperanza Elementary $5,000. As a high-tech company, they became the catalyst for development of the envisioned technology program, aimed at creating the "ideal classroom." In 1994, AG Communication Systems agreed to fund the first phase ($143,000 in cash, equipment and staff training time) of a three-phase program, resulting in a school in which technology is uniquely used to enhance the learning environment. The company has recently agreed to donate and additional $55,000.



Curriculum Enhancement

ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER & VARIOUS SCHOOLS

The Arizona Science Center, in partnership with eleven Phoenix schools, is implementing Desert Web, a four-year desert related science curriculum at no cost to participating schools. Desert Web offers teachers: a supplementary science curriculum developed in consultation with and for participating teachers, over sixteen hours of teacher training, materials, and opportunities for peer networking. Students participating in Desert Web receive: desert-related activities throughout the year, and a visit from the science center once a year, exposure to hands-on science instruction during their formative years, and the opportunity to make a family visit to the Arizona Science Center, Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo for half price during the summer. Through this partnership, the science center has and will continue to receive invaluable input about what teachers need, and feedback on what activities and processes work in school environments.



Community/Neighborhood Partnerships

HOLSUM BAKERY, INC., FLEMING FOOD COMPANY, INC., MEYER LUNDAHL MFG. CO., CIRCLE K CORP., AUTO SAFETY HOUSE, NATIONAL DISPLAY RACK SYSTEMS, GARDEN WEST DISTRIBUTORS, TEAMSTERS LOCAL #104, ARIZONA BAG COMPANY, AND SEVERAL OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. & ALFRED F. GARCIA SCHOOL

The Garcia Partnership is a committed group of individuals and businesses who have formed an alliance to take control of this neighborhood to ensure that we can live in a safe environment. Working together through community mobilization which has enhanced the quality of life for everyone and improved student learner opportunities. Without an operating budget, we have sustained our efforts over the years with the unique guiding principle, that most projects, activities, programs and services can be initiated through the use of already existing resources, donations and volunteer services. Through its Business/School Opportunities Committee, the partnership is directly linked with Garcia School and focuses on ways to enhance the educational process for neighborhood youth.