The Arizona for Latino Leaders in Education, or ALL in Education nonprofit, is receiving $2.9 million from the Arizona Department of Education, the Helios Education Foundation and the Pharos Foundation to fund and expand its programs that aim to develop a pipeline of new educators and school leaders.
One of the programs is the Parent Educator Academy, which launched earlier this year. Its goal is to arm parents with skills needed to navigate distance learning, and also prepare them for careers in education. Twenty-seven parents from the Yuma and Phoenix areas who were part of the academy’s first cohort recently graduated. One parent has gone on to work for a school district. Another has joined ALL in Education's equity task force. Others are looking to start parent groups at their school sites.
“So we think that this could really be a workforce pipeline for the teaching profession and to diversify the teaching workforce," said the nonprofit's executive director Stephanie Parra.
ALL in Education is looking to expand this program to 200 participants from the Maricopa, Pima and Yuma counties. In addition, its launching two new programs, Adelante and LISTO, later this year aimed at finding solutions to close opportunity gaps and mentoring new and emerging school board leaders and those interested in running for office.
“Our hope is that this investment will lay the foundation to scale our impact and build a better, more vibrant Arizona that we’re all dreaming of," Parra said.
