Arizona Center for STEM Teachers (ACST)

The Arizona Center for STEM Teachers (ACST) was created through a three-year, $1.5 million grant by Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) to The University of Arizona's B2 Institute to establish a resource and training center that will expand the quality and retention of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers in Arizona. The Philecology Foundation is partnering and providing a matching grant to fully fund the Center. The Center’s mission is to enhance and deepen the skills of Arizona STEM educators to ensure that their teaching translates to successful graduates who can effectively compete and prosper in the 21st century marketplace.

We are pleased to partner with the Arizona Public Service (APS) Foundation in creating a signature STEM program focusing on the scientific, technological, and engineering challenges of achieving sustainable economic growth with limited natural resources.  This program will be significantly shaped by the support and expertise of APS volunteers, providing a unique perspective and “up to the minute” knowledge of topics with particular relevance to Arizona.  The program includes a content planning process in close collaboration with APS volunteers, culminating in a new ACST summer institute in July 2013.  More than any other corporation in our state, APS has the tools to help generate this program.  Together with a select group of APS volunteers, University faculty, staff, and students, the ACST lead teachers will prepare an extraordinary program that will impact 60 K-12 STEM teachers and hundreds of Arizona school children.