Newsroom
In the news: 6 under-the-radar local nonprofits — and how our Nonprofit Job Board helped one leader find a dream opportunity
August 14, 2024, dtphx.org — You’ve probably heard of Arizona Educational Foundation’s signature initiatives before, such as Arizona Teacher of the Year, the Arizona Spelling Bee, and A+ Schools of Excellence. These are educational programs and spotlights that the foundation coordinates year-round.
But this only hints at the foundation’s standard of excellence. Over time, the nonprofit has built a robust program of diverse courses, from addressing teacher shortages to lawmakers shadowing teachers, cultivating a new generation of excelling public schools and educators.
Meet Kim: Kim Graham entered a well-oiled machine when she joined after a stint at a New Orleans nonprofit in 2018. When the position popped up on the ASU Lodestar Center Nonprofit Job Board, the excitement to spotlight the best in public education spoke for itself. And a desire to return to Arizona to live closer to her mother sealed the deal.
A few months later, her first day as the new CEO involved meeting AEF’s Teacher of the Year selection committee. She was immediately amazed by the passion of the committee members and nominees.
Despite their pedigree as people recognized as the best teachers in Arizona’s school system, the nominees sometimes have a nagging sense of imposter syndrome. Yet journaling about their careers flips a switch when they’re filling out the application form. The effort causes reflection on the opportunities they’ve given students and ultimately reinvigorates why they became teachers in the first place.