SHARE THIS EMAIL E-NEWSLETTER  | JUNE 2022 In This Issue:  Why attainment and the Achieve60AZ goal matter Voters prioritize key issues for candidates More than 150 Education Forward Arizona scholars honored for graduating college Save the Date for an InspirED Evening on Oct. 20 AdviseAZ receives more than $500k to continue supporting college attainment  Thank You, Teachers! Seeking stars to join the Education Forward Arizona team Why attainment and the Achieve60AZ goal matter     In Arizona we have an important goal for educational attainment. The Achieve60AZ attainment goal is for 60% of Arizona adults to attain a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030.   Achieve60AZ began more than five years ago, comprised of a broad community alliance of more than 150 Arizona organizations coming together on the attainment goal. These community leaders understood that in order for Arizona to remain economically competitive, we must advance educational attainment.      LEARN MORE Voters prioritize key issues for candidates In a new poll commissioned by Education Forward Arizona, voters shared their priorities for education in the state. At the top of their list is the need to address the biggest issues facing education in the state: increasing teacher pay and school funding. Voters also prioritize ensuring every school has great teachers and leaders, increasing opportunities for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and helping more students be proficient in reading and math. Voters shared strong support for increasing education attainment and closing achievement gaps by providing additional funding for low-income students and giving scholarships to low-income students to go to college. “Voters continue to prioritize education and want to see their candidates discussing and taking action on the issues that matter most to improving student outcomes and increasing education attainment,” said Rich Nickel, President and CEO of Education Forward Arizona. READ MORE Show your support by adding your name to the growing number of Arizonans asking our candidates to  prioritize education in our state!   More than 150 Education Forward Arizona graduates honored We honored more than 150 Education Forward Arizona scholars who graduated college last month in a special ceremony at our headquarters in Phoenix. Many of the students are first-generation college graduates who received scholarships and/or mentorship support from our organization.  “To just say Education Forward Arizona helped me succeed in my education would be an understatement," said April Victor during the ceremony. “They did so much more. They got me through one of the hardest times of my life.” LEARN MORE     Save the Date for an InspirED Evening on Oct. 20 Join us on Oct. 20 for our inaugural benefit dinner, An Inspired Evening presented by Education Forward Arizona.   An InspirED Evening will bring together individuals across the state to celebrate collaboration and innovation in education, from early learning through postsecondary attainment.   LEARN MORE       AdviseAZ receives more than $500k to continue supporting college attainment AmeriCorps recently announced that AdviseAZ will receive more than $500,000 to continue its college access work in Arizona. The funding will help AdviseAZ place 65 advisers in communities across the state. These advisers will work alongside high school or community site staff to encourage students to pursue a postsecondary education. LEARN MORE   Thank You, Teachers! The teachers in our communities have continued to show up with a big heart to serve and a willingness to meet each child’s unique needs, even during a global pandemic. In our recent poll, voters ranked teachers and teacher pay as top priorities. We recently honored teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week and wanted to share more about the incredible work they are doing to educate Arizona students, from pre-K to high school and beyond. It’s always a good time to celebrate teachers. Here are a few we recently highlighted: Saguaro High School Teacher Ashley Crose   Puente de Hózhó Elementary School Teacher Jillian Hernandez Apollo High School Teacher Lindsey Peterson  Ed & Verma Pastor Elementary School Teacher Edgar Ochoa  Suni Hills Elementary School Teacher Jennifer Cheeseman  We also want to extend another thank you to everyone who shared a message on our Teacher Appreciation Wall of Love. VIEW IT HERE. Seeking stars to join the Education Forward Arizona team! Want to be part of making significant changes in Arizona education that benefits all students? A career with our statewide organization is one that gives back every day! See our current job openings here:  AdviseAZ Outreach Specialist AmeriCorps AdviseAZ Members Salesforce Development Admin Success Adviser - Maricopa Community Colleges EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA Our mission is to advocate for and act on education improvements that advance the quality of life for all Arizonans.