>>> ARIZONA SCHOOL

SUPERINTENDENT ASKING THE STATE

TO PUMP MORE MONEY INTO SCHOOLS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE AN AMAZING

EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>>> PLUS, INSIDE ONE MIDDLE

SCHOOL WHERE ONE PROGRAM IS

HELPING KIDS DREAM BIG.

>>> AND DECLARED MISSING IN

ACTION.

NOW BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL.

>> HE WAS A HERO.

YET WAS SUCH A YOUNG GUY.

KIND OF SAD THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE

A LIFE LIKE THE REST OF US.

>> FULL MILITARY HONORS FOR A

SOLDIER KILLED IN KOREA.

>>> THOSE STORIES AND BE MORE

>>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING

US.

ARIZONA'S SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

DIANE DOUGLAS ON A LISTENING

TOUR THIS WEEK.

IN OFFICE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS,

SHE'S VISITED WITH 40 SCHOOLS

ALL OVER THE STATE TALKING WITH

TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

THIS WEEK, SUPERINTENDENT

DOUGLAS MADE HEADLINES LAST WEEK

WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED SHE'D ASK THE

STATE LEGISLATURE TO PUMP $680

MILLION INTO ARIZONA SCHOOLS.

THE MONEY WOULD GO DIRECTLY

TOWARDS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND

CHARTER SCHOOLS, PAY TEACHERS

MORE MONEY, AND IN SOME CASES, A

5% RAISE.

THEN ON TO RURAL SCHOOLS FOR

THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION MONEY

FOR IMPROVING BUILDINGS OR

BUILDING NEW ONES, AND FUNDING

FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.

SUPERINTENDENT DOUGLAS SAYS ALL

THIS IS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE

SCHOOLS SAFER AND MORE

EFFECTIVE.

ON THE LISTING TOUR, DOUGLAS

HEARING FIRSTHAND FROM STUDENTS.

>> I WAS READING SOME OF YOUR

PROPOSALS.

>> FROM PARENTS --

>> AND I WANT TO SEE MY KIDS

GETTING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS,

NOT BEING OFFERED UNHEALTHY

FOOD, NOT BEING OFFERED SNACK

FOODS ALL THE TIME IN

CLASSROOMS.

I WANT TO SEE THEM HAVE ACCESS

TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BECAUSE

THEY'RE KIDS AND I WANT TO SEE

THEM HAVE THOSE REWARDS TO BE

MENTALLY ENVISION -- ENVISION

RATED.

>> AND TEACHERS.

>> WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A

TEACHER STORTAGE IN ARIZONA.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF

CERTIFIED PEOPLE WILLING TO

TEACH.

WE HAVE A LOT GIFTED, WONDERFUL,

TALENTED TEACHERS WHO TRULY DO

NOT WANT TO LEAVE.

>> DOUGLAS SAYS SHE'S USED THESE

LISTENING TOURS TO HEAR WHAT

PEOPLE WANT OUT OF ARIZONA'S

EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THAT'S WHY

SHE'S ASKING STATE LEGISLATORS

TO PUT MORE DOLLARS INTO

CLASSROOMS.

ON MONDAY EVENING SUPERINTENDENT

DOUGLAS SPOKE.

HERE IS A PORTION OF MY

INTERVIEW WITH HER.

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO BE TALKING

TO THEM.

I THINK THEY MIGHT GET A LITTLE

TIRED OF HEARING FROM ME, BUT

UNIFORMLY, THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD

ACROSS THE STATE.

NOW THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR WITH

THE "WE ARE LISTENING TOUR," AND

CONSISTENTLY, THAT'S WHAT WE

HEAR ARIZONANS WANTS THEIR

TEACHERS PAID BETTER.

>> DO YOU THINK PAYING TEACHERS

MORE MONEY WILL IMPROVE

EDUCATION IN ARIZONA?

>> IT WILL HELP.

GIVING OUR TEACHERS THE

COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE FOR

THE VITALLY IMPORTANT JOB THEY

DO FOR OUR SOCIETY.

I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

BUT MONEY'S NOT THE SOLE ANSWER.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT SO

MANY DIFFERENT PIECES OF OUR

EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGED

AREA IN EDUCATION IN ARIZONA.

WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE VISION?

HOW DO YOU BRING STUDENTS WHO

DON'T HAVE A LANGUAGE IN THEIR

BACKGROUND TO WHERE THEY NEED TO

BE?

>> WELL, ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S IN

YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A SYSTEM SET UP THAT THE

VOTERS OF ARIZONA DECLARED SOME

TIME AGO, DECLARED THAT ARIZONA

WILL BE AN ENGLISH IMMERSION

STATE.

SO WE HAVE THE MODELS AND WE

SUPPORT THOSE, AND GIVE THE

TEACHERS THE TRAINING THEY NEED.

NOW WE KNOW WE'RE FACING A LOT

OF CHALLENGES.

WHEN I WAS ON THE PEORIA BOARD,

I THINK WE HAD UPWARDS OF 100

DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WERE

SPOKEN THROUGHOUT OUR 40 SOME

SCHOOLS.

THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE FOR A

SCHOOL.

SO WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING WITH

THESE STUDENTS BECAUSE WE WANT

THEM ALL TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE

LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF

MONEY INTO SCHOOLS.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL

LEGISLATORS NEEDS TO HAPPEN THIS

YEAR?

>> I RECOGNIZE THAT MY OFFICE IS

NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR

APPROPRIATIONS.

I CAN'T MAKE THE MONEY.

BUT I DO BELIEVE IT IS MY DUTY

AS THE ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT TO

MAKE THEM AWARE.

AND I'M GLAD I'M NOT THEM MAKING

THOSE TOUGH CHOICES BECAUSE

THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS WITHIN

OUR STATE.

BUT TO NOT DISCUSS THE ISSUE

BECAUSE ALL OF THAT MONEY MAY

NOT BE AVAILABLE IS TO DO A

DISSERVICE TO THAT ISSUE, IN MY

OPINION.

WE HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT

THESE.

AND THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT

SOLUTION.

THERE'S NO ONE MAGIC AMOUNT OF

MONEY THAT WILL DO IT.

BUT I THINK WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED

SOME VERY IMPORTANT AREAS OF

NEED WITHIN OUR STATE.

WITH THE GENERAL FUNDING, PROP

206, WE KNOW THERE'S DISCUSSION

OF ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN THAT

THERE ARE MANY WHO WOULD LIKE TO

SEE THAT.

ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S A LEGISLATIVE

DECISION WHETHER THAT COMES TO

BE.

OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES MUST BE

MAINTAINED.

I WOULDN'T BE DOING THE CITIZENS

A SERVICE IF I DIDN'T TELL THE

LEGISLATURE THAT.

>> ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE

RANKED ONE OF THE LOWEST STATES

IN THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO

PER PEOPLE FUNDING.

HOW DID WE GET TO THIS PLACE?

>> WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT'S

VERY DIFFERENT THAN VERY MANY

OTHER PLACES.

ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES -- AND

WHO KNOWS IF THIS WILL CHANGE IN

WASHINGTON -- WE DON'T CONTROL A

LOT OF OUR FEDERAL LAND TO OUR

OWN ADVANTAGE, AND THAT'S AN

ISSUE THAT MOST -- MOST, IF NOT

ALL -- I BELIEVE HAWAII HAD

THEIR FEDERAL LAND RETURNED TO

THEM.

I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF THE

OTHER -- OR WHICH OTHER WESTERN

STATES HAVE.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT FEDERAL

LAND EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI

VERSUS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE TO

BE AT.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT ECONOMY.

SO YOU HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THE

CONFINES OF THAT AND I'M

SYMPATHETIC TO OUR LEGISLATORS

THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT, WE STILL HAVE TO BE

ADDRESSING, TALKING ABOUT THE

NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.

>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE

ARIZONA'S EDUCATION?

>> I THINK WE HAVE SOME

CHALLENGES, BUT I THINK WE HAVE

AN AMAZING EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND

IT SADDENS ME TO SEE IT GET BEAT

UP SO OFTEN.

OFTENTIMES IN THE PRESS OR IN

THE MEDIA.

WE HAVE AMAZING THINGS GOING ON.

WE HAVE DEDICATED TEACHERS IN

OUR CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY.

WE ARE THE LEADER IN MANY AREAS.

WE HAVE, JUST AN EXAMPLE, WE

HAVE A STATE OF THE ART COMPUTER

SYSTEM THAT WE'VE WORKED ON.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS MANDATED WE

DO THAT, AND WE'VE CREATED IT.

WE HAVE OTHER STATES THAT WOULD

LIKE TO BUY THAT SYSTEM BECAUSE

IT'S SO GOOD.

WE HAVE A TEST FOR ALTERNATIVE

EDUCATION STUDENTS THAT'S VERY

CUTTING EDGE.

WE'VE CREATED IT WITH SOME OF

THE BEST EXPERTS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS A CONSORTIUM WITH OTHER

STATES.

OTHER STATES WOULD LIKE TO GET

THAT.

WE ARE LEADING THE CHARGE.

WE ARE THE FIRST STATE IN THE

NATION TO HAVE THE EVERY

STUDENTS SUCCEEDS AND THE PLAN.

>> YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE SOME

HEAT FROM THE NAY SAYERS, PEOPLE

WHO DIDN'T SUPPORT YOU DURING

YOUR CAMPAIGN.

YET YOU'VE TRAVELED TO NEARLY 40

DIFFERENT PLACES OVER THE LAST

TWO YEARS.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT YOUR

PLANS FOR EDUCATION IN ARIZONA?

>> I THINK IT SPEAKS TO WANTING

TO INVOLVE THE PEOPLE OF

ARIZONA.

IN ONE OF MY DEEPEST HELD

BELIEFS IS THAT OUR EDUCATION

SYSTEM BELONGS TO ALL OF US.

IT DOESN'T JUST BELONG TO THE

PARENTS WHO RIGHT THIS MINUTE

HAVE CHILDREN IN CLASS, OR TO

THE TEACHERS OR THE

ADMINISTRATORS.

WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN THE

OUTCOME IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR

CHILDREN.

THAT'S ALSO WHY IT IS A PUBLICLY

FUNDED EDUCATION SYSTEM, BECAUSE

OUR FOUNDING FATHERS SAW THAT AS

SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOOL, AN

IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PROCESS

OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE A WELL

EDUCATED CITIZENRY TO PERPETUATE

OUR REPUBLIC.

SO IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US.

WE ALL HAVE TO BE AT THE TABLE

DISCUSSING IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> SUPERINTENDENT DOUGLAS IS IN

FOR A BATTLE AT THE CAPITOL AND

WORKING WITH A NEW TEAM OF

LEGISLATORS.

ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA'S

CHRISTOPHER CONOVER WITH MORE

FROM PHOENIX.

>> THE NOVEMBER ELECTION BROUGHT

NEW FACES TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

FROM LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE

SENATE AND THE HOUSE, TO

MEMBERSHIP.

THEY'RE UP HERE AT ORIENTATION

LEARNING THEIR JOBS.

REPRESENTATIVE TODD CLAUDE

FELTER OF TUCSON IS ONE OF THOSE

NEW MEMBERS.

>> LIKE DRINKING FROM THE FIRE

HOSE.

THE PROTOCOL.

THE TRADITION OF LEARNING THE

PROCEDURES.

I WOULD SAY IT ISN'T

OVERWHELMING BUT IT CERTAINLY IS

A MASS OF INFORMATION TO TRY TO

CONSUME.

>> ANYTHING LIKE YOU THOUGHT IT

WAS GOING TO BE?

>> NO, IT IS WAY BEYOND THAT.

WHAT I'M FINDING OUT THOUGH,

THERE IS PLENTY OF STAFF MEMBERS

ON CAMPUS THAT ARE THERE TO HELP

AND TO GUIDE US THROUGH THESE

STEPS.

WE REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, BUT

THEY ARE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF

WHAT HAPPENS HERE AT THE STATE

CAPITOL.

>> THE CAPITOL IS GETTING READY

FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW

SESSION.

BUT OF COURSE, FOR NEW MEMBERS,

THERE ARE SOME HICCUPS ALONG THE

WAY.

>> I ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE A

BADGE YET.

CAN I GET THROUGH?

OH, OKAY.

OKAY.

>> FOR NEW REPRESENTATIVE

KIRSTIN ENGLE, THAT MEANS

CHECKING OUT HER NEW OFFICE.

>> SO WE'RE SEEING IT FOR FIRST

TIME.

YOU'RE SEEING IT WITH ME.

IN ITS EMPTY STATE.

SO HERE IT IS.

>> IN THE ARIZONA HOUSE,

REPRESENTATIVES-ELECT ENGLE AND

CLAUDEFELTER ARE A RARITY, BOTH

FRESHMEN FROM THE TUCSON

DISTRICT BUT THEY REPRESENT

DIFFERENT PARTIES.

ONLY THREE DISTRICTS IN THE

STATE HAVE THAT ARRANGEMENT.

>> I THINK IT WILL WORK FINE.

PART OF MY CAMPAIGN EFFORT WAS

TO IDENTIFY THAT I WOULD

REPRESENT ALL OF THE PEOPLE, NOT

JUST THE CORE.

AND I THINK WE NEED A BALANCE.

WE NEED A REPUBLICAN UP HERE AS

WELL AS THE DEMOCRATS TO BEST

REPUBLICAN THE COMMUNITY OF

TUCSON.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

BUT SO FAR IT'S BEEN WORKING

WELL.

WE'RE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

HERE UP IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND

PUTTING ALL THE CAMPAIGN BEHIND

US NOW AND I THINK THE POINT NOW

IS JUST MAKE PROGRESS ON THE

ISSUES THAT WE CAME HERE TO

FURTHER.

>> EDUCATION IS A TOP PRIORITY

FOR MANY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT INCLUDES THE MAN IN CHARGE

OF THE HOUSE FOR THE NEXT TWO

YEARS, HOUSE SPEAKER ELECT

J.D.MESNARD.

>> I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE

A LOT OF INTEREST IN NOT ONLY

CLASSROOM SPENDING, BUT IN

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING

MAINTENANCE.

WHEN THE ECONOMY TOOK A DIVE, WE

SCALED SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS

BACK FOR NEW FACILITIES OR

UPKEEP OF FACILITIES, AND WE

NEED TO RE-EXAMINE THAT OR ELSE

WE WILL BE IN FOR IT LATER.

>> EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE

HEARD FROM STATE SCHOOL

SUPERINTENDENT DIANE DOUGLAS

ABOUT HER PLANS FOR EDUCATION

FUNDING.

THAT MONEY MUST BE APPROVED BY

THE LEGISLATURE.

>> FRANKLY, WHAT SHE EXPRESSED,

AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD SAY

ARE PRIORITIES THAT WE SHARE.

THE STRATEGY FOR GETTING THERE,

FOR INSTANCE, DIPPING INTO THE

RAINY DAY FUND, I DON'T THINK

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT IS NOT RAINING.

>> WITH ORIENTATION WEEK OVER,

NEW MEMBERS NOW RETURN HOME TO

SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES,

DIGEST WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED, AND

FIGURE OUT WHAT THE TOP BILLS

WILL BE FOR THE UPCOMING

LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE SESSION BEGINS JANUARY 9th.

AT THE STATE CAPITOL,

CHRISTOPHER CONOVER, ARIZONA

PUBLIC MEDIA.

>>> BACK TO THE CLASSROOM NOW.

IN ALTAR VALLEY, THE SCHOOL

DISTRICT LAUNCHING INTO S.T.E.M.

EFFORTS, A PLACE WHERE NEARLY

30% OF THE COMMUNITY IS BELOW

THE POVERTY LINE.

SCHOOL LEADERS ARE DETERMINED TO

GIVE KIDS SOME OF THE BEST

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

♪♪

>> I THINK THE KIDS LOVE IT.

THEY JUST REALLY -- THEY GET

INTO IT.

THERE ARE SO MANY EXCITING

THINGS IN THE LABS.

THEY HAVE ROBOTICS, THEY HAVE

MEDICAL IMAGING.

THEY HAVE KIDS WHO SAY, I WANT

TO BE A VETERINARIAN.

WE HAVE KIDS THAT WILL DO

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO

SORT OF EXPLORE WHAT THEIR

INTERESTS MIGHT BE.

>> THE LABS CAME TO THE ALTAR

VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT BY WAY OF

A GRANT, A COMPETITIVE ONE.

100 DISTRICTS APPLIED.

THIS RURAL SCHOOL WEST OF

TUCSON, 1 OF 7 AWARDED THE

GUNDZ.

FUNDS.

THESE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE

OFFERED A WAY OF LEARNING.

>> IT IS A PROGRAM WHERE YOU

HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT

MOLECULES LIKE FORENSIC SCIENCE

OR VETERINARY MEDICINE.

THEN DIGITAL MUSIC.

MEDIA PRINTING.

THERE IS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT

ONES AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT

ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO TO

EXPERIMENT AND SEE WHAT IT IS

LIKE IF YOU ACTUALLY GOT A JOB

IN THAT AREA.

>> IT'S REALLY FUN TO DO.

IT IS ACTUALLY A GREAT PROGRAM

TO USE.

IT HELPS YOU LEARN STUFF WITHOUT

HAVING TO JUST DO IT ON YOUR

OWN.

LIKE IT GIVES YOU HELP BUT YOU

ALSO HAVE THE CHALLENGE OF BEING

ABLE TO DO IT YOURSELF.

>> INTRODUCED TO PROGRAMS AND

SYSTEMS THEY'VE NEVER SEEN

BEFORE, IMPROVED SKILL SETS

FOSTERING A NEW DREAM.

>> I WOULD ACTUALLY DRY AND BE

AN ENGINEER BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO

ANOTHER SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO

DO AND IT KIND OF GAVE ME AN

IDEA OF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO.

SOMETHING FUN AND PRODUCTIVE.

>> IN ONE YEAR, TEST SCORES HAVE

NEARLY DOUBLED.

THE SCHOOL'S STEPPING UP TO

TEACH A NEW CALIBER OF STUDENT.

>> WE'RE OFFERING NOW OVER 20

DIFFERENT MODULES FOR KIDS TO

SEE WHAT THEY LIKE, SEE WHAT

THEIR INTERESTS ARE AND WE'RE

ABLE TO INCORPORATE S.T.E.M. AND

ENGLISH IN THERE.

THE WRITING HAS IMPROVED

SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> MORE THAN SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND

MATH, THIS PROGRAM IS SETTING A

NEW STANDARD.

>> THE CRITICAL THINKING AND

READING THAT TAKES PLACE IN THAT

CLASSROOM IS AMAZING.

TEXTBOOKS ARE -- THEY'RE GONE.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK KIDS LEARN BETTER NOW

USING THE COMPUTER.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE THEIR

SKILLS ARE.

I THINK KIDS ARE BORN ALMOST

WITH A PHONE IN THEIR HANDS.

THEY KNOW THE TECHNOLOGY

QUICKLY.

I'M MUCH OLDER, SO IT TAKES ME A

WHILE TO FIGURE OUT THE

TECHNOLOGY.

BUT KIDS CAN JUST FIGURE OUT

REALLY QUICKLY.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THEY LEARN

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO TAP

IN TO, THE WAY THEY LEARN.

>> WE'VE SEEN SOME GREAT

SUCCESSES WITH STUDENT TEST

SCORES AND HAVING THIS LAB OPENS

SO MANY MORE DOORS FOR STUDENTS

THAT THEY JUST HAVE NO IDEA THAT

WAS EVEN A POSSIBILITY.

>> IF EVERY STUDENT COULD

EXPERIENCE IT, THAT WOULD BE

REALLY COOL.

>> IT IS JUST A REALLY COOL

PROGRAM TO HELP YOU LEARN NEW

THINGS.

>> BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

WHAT THEY LEARN HERE, LAYING THE

FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE.

>>> A DIAMOND IN THE DESERT.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID DUMOND.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON OUR

21st CENTURY SKILLS OF

COMMUNICATION, BUILDING

COMMUNICATION COLLABORATION AND

CRITICAL THINKING AND CREATIVITY

WITH OUR STUDENTS.

THE PAXTON LAB WAS SOMETHING

THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE

ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A GRANT

THAT GOT US STARTSTARTED.

100 SCHOOLS APPLIED.

SEVEN SCHOOLS GOT THE GRANT.

THAT'S REALLY GOT THE BALL

ROLLING.

WE DECIDED TO PILOT THE

PAXTON-PATTERSON LAB.

IT REALLY FOCUSES ON CAREERS FOR

STUDENTS OUT THERE.

WE'RE REMOVED FROM TUCSON AND SO

WE WANTED TO TRY TO OFFER

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE KIDS TO BE

ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT

THINGS.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHY WE BROUGHT

PAXTON-PATTERSON TO THE SCHOOL.

>> IT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE.

YOU SAID TEST SCORE DMZ SOME

AREAS HAVE ACTUALLY DOUBLED?

>> YES.

AS WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR'S

DISTRICT BENCHMARK SCORES TO

THIS YEAR'S DISTRICT BENCHMARK

SCORES COMPARING FIRST QUARTER

DATA, WE'VE INCREASED ANYWHERE

FROM 20% TO 60% IN -- ON OUR

READING, OUR READING, OUR MATH

AND OUR SCIENCE BENCHMARKS.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT

WE'RE SEEING SO FAR.

WE'RE JUST WRAPPING UP --

GETTING READY TO START A SECOND

QUARTER OF ASSESSMENTS NEXT WEEK

AND WE'LL BE COMPARING THAT DATA

AND LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE DOING.

BUT WE ARE EXPECTING SIMILAR

CELEBRATIONS.

>> WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT

TO?

YOU CAN PROVIDE THESE STUDENTS

WITH THIS INFORMATION, BUT THEN

TO SEE IT HAPPEN SO QUICKLY.

>> WELL, REALLY, IT GOES DOWN TO

THE TEACHERS AT ALTAR VALLEY

MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE JUST AN

AMAZING TEAM THAT WORK TOGETHER.

OUR TEACHER THAT WE HAVE LEADING

THE LAB IS A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR

THE STUDENTS AND REALLY THEY'RE

GOING TO THE LAB AND THEY'RE

GETTING INTRODUCED TO DIFFERENT

CAREERS BUT IT IS REALLY ALL OF

THE TEACHERS WORKING TOGETHER

TRYING TO GET THEM TO BRING

EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT S.T.E.M. IS.

IT IS JUST REALLY ABOUT TRYING

TO INTEGRATE ALL OF THE

DIFFERENT AREAS AND HELP

STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT

CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

>> IN THE PIECE THAT WE SAW SOME

OF THESE KIDS WERE SAYING I

NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEING AN

ENGINEER, BUT MAYBE NOW I WANT

TO.

IS THAT THE IDEA BEHIND THIS?

>> IT IS EXACTLY THE IDEA.

IT IS ALSO THE IDEA, I MEAN WE

HAVE LASER TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE FORENSIC SCIENCE.

THEY'RE ABLE TO CHOOSE A CAREER

THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN

AND 9 TIMES OUT OF 10, STUDENTS

ARE LIKE "I LOVE IT."

YOU'LL HAVE A OPPORTUNITY BE,

LIKE, WELL, MAYBE THIS MIGHT NOT

BE THE CAREER FOR ME BUT THEY

COMPLETE THE MODULE, THEY'RE

SUCCESSFUL.

SO AGAIN, IT IS A LEARNING

OPPORTUNITY AND THAT'S WHAT WE

WANT TO DO TO GET THEM TO

REALIZE NOW TO START THINKING

ABOUT WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH

THE REST OF MY LIFE.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S

REALLY NEW FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WAYS -- WE HAVE A LOT OF

STUDENTS THAT ACTUALLY LIVE IN

OUR 700 SQUARE MILES.

WE KNOW PARENTS AND STUDENTS

HAVE CHOICES.

WE WANT TO CREATE A FIRST CLASS

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN ALTAR

VALLEY.

I REALLY BELIEVE WE HAVE AN

AMAZING PLACE.

SO BRINGING IN THE S.T.E.M. AND

THE PAXTON LAB IS REALLY JUST

CREATING A -- AGAIN -- JUST MORE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

WE'VE EXPANDED OUR SUMMER

SCHOOL.

WE'RE CALLING IT A S.T.E.M.

SUMMER CAMP.

IT IS REALLY ALL JUST COMPLETELY

ON TECHNOLOGY, FORENSICS, IT'S

JUST -- IT'S REALLY CHANGED THE

WAY WE'VE DONE OR ARE DOING

THINGS IN ALTAR VALLEY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

PLEASURE.

>>> ALL ACROSS THE TUCSON AREA

THERE ARE S.T.E.M. EFFORTS IN

SCHOOLS.

THE LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER IN

SOUTHERN ARIZONA SAYS 50% OF ITS

CHARITABLE GIVING GOES TOWARD

INCREASING S.T.E.M. EDUCATION.

WITH MORE ON THAT, HERE'S MY

COLLEAGUE.

>> THERE REALLY IS A NATIONAL

IMPERATIVE TO GET MORE STUDENTS

INVOLVED IN S.T.E.M. EDUCATION,

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING

AND MATH.

IT IS NOT GOOD WHEN COUNTRIES

LIKE CHINA AND INDIA GRADUATE

MORE ENGINEERS ANNUALLY THAN THE

UNITED STATES.

SO FOR OUR NATION TO KEEP ITS

TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE, WE REALLY

NEED TO SEE MORE STUDENTS

CHOOSING THOSE CAREERS IF

THEY'RE GOOD IN MATH AND

SCIENCE.

IT IS NOT JUST ADDING UP A

COLUMN OF NUMBERS.

IT IS THE APPLICATION OF THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF

ENGINEERS.

BUT ALSO, WE NEED TALENT AS OUR

POPULATION -- OUR WORK FORCE

AGES, WE NEED THE NEXT BATCH OF

INNOVAORS TO COME IN, WITH

SOLUTIONS WE'VE NEVER EVEN

THOUGHT OF.

THAT HAPPENED 20, 30 YEARS AGO

IN AEROSPACE.

WE NEED THE NEXT GROUP TO COME

UP AND INNOVATE AS WELL.

THERE'S TWO MAIN REASONS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO INTERESTED

IN THIS.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING THAT

NEXT BATCH OF TALENT.

HOW MUCH HAS THAT BEEN COMING

HERE LOCALLY?

THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS FROM

RAYTHEON FROM A DECADE NOW.

IS IT STARTING TO PAY OFF?

ARE YOU SEEING SOME HOME-GROWN

TALENT COMING UP FROM TUCSON?

TO U OF A AND ON TO RAYTHEON?

>> YOU BET WE ARE.

SOME OF THE OUTREACH EFFORTS WE

HAVE CENTERED AROUND S.T.E.M.

EDUCATION, FIRST AND FOREMOST WE

DO A MATH DAY WITH THE

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA EVERY

YEAR.

WE BRING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO

THIS CAMPUS.

THEY BUILD GALILEO SCOPES AND

THEY WORK WITH OUR YOUNG

ENGINEERS TO GET INSPIRED AND

ASK QUESTIONS AND REALLY SEE

THAT THEY, TOO, IF THEY HAVE

THIS KIND OF INTEREST, COULD

HAVE A CAREER AT A COMPANY LIKE

RAYTHEON.

WE DO MATH NIGHTS AT SUNNY SIDE

HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE ARE

MENTORING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES,

MENTORING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING A LITTLE

BIT WITH CALCULUS OR ALGEBRA.

OUR ENGINEERS GO DOWN AND SPEND

A COUPLE OF HOURS WITH THEM,

ALMOST IN A ONE-ON-ONE SETTING.

THESE STUDENTS GET TO UNDERSTAND

CONCEPTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN

DIFFICULT FOR THEM BEFORE.

SO THAT'S VERY REWARDING FOR US

AND WE HAVE NO TROUBLE GETTING

VOLUNTEERS DOING THAT.

>> DO WE SEE THE BENEFITS OF

THIS?

YOU BET.

WE'VE HELPED RAISE TEST SCORES

AT SUNNY SIDE AS A RESULT OF

THIS AND THE FIRST BATCH OF HIGH

SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT DECIDED TO

CHOOSE ENGINEERING AS THEIR

MAJOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF

ARIZONA ARE GRADUATING, AND SOME

OF THEM ARE COMING TO WORK FOR

US.

>> YOU MENTIONED U OF A AS A

PIPELINE -- NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF

ITS ENGINEERING GRADUATE

STUDENTS ARE INTERNATIONAL

STUDENTS.

THAT REPRESENTS A BIT OF A

PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO

RECRUITING FOR RAYTHEON, YES?

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE U.S.

CITIZENS.

THAT'S NOT OUR RULE.

THAT'S THE RULE OF OUR NUMBER

ONE CUSTOMER, THE DEPARTMENT OF

DEFENSE.

THAT SHOWS YOU WHY WE NEED TO

GROW TALENT.

WE NEED TO HAVE HOME-GROWN

TALENT.

IT IS WHY WE ARE SO INTERESTED

IN INSPIRING THE NEXT

GENERATION.

OUR PROGRAMS REACH FROM

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IF YOU CAN

BELIEVE IT, THROUGH MIDDLE

SCHOOL, THROUGH MY SCHOOL, AND

THROUGH COLLEGE.

LET ME SAY A BIT ABOUT THE

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM.

CALLED ENGINEERING IS

ELEMENTARY.

YOU SAY WHAT?

YOU'RE TEACHING ENGINEERING

CONCEPTS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

STUDENTS?

BUT WE REALLY ARE.

THOSE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ARE

GREAT AT PHONICS AND ENGLISH AND

SOME OF THOSE HAD KEY CONCEPTS.

BUT THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT

INTIMIDATED WITH ADVANCED

ENGINEERING CONCEPTS OR EVEN

BASIC ENGINEERING CONCEPTS.

WE PURCHASED A CURRICULUM THAT

WE GIVE TO THEM, THEN WE GO INTO

THE CLASSROOM AND WE'LL BUILD

SUSPENSION BRIDGES WITHPOPSICLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF MATH IN THAT.

>>> SOME POLITICAL NEWS NOW.

JUST THIS WEEK, THE PRESIDENT OF

THE ARIZONA-MEXICO COMMISSION

RESIGNED.

A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE COMMISSION

SAYS HE STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS

VOLUNTEER POSITION.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHO WILL REPLACE

HIM.

>>> OTHER NEWS NOW, THE NATION

PAUSED TO REMEMBER THE 75th

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK AT

PEARL HARBOR.

THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR TRAVELED TO

HAWAII WHERE HE VISITED THE "USS

ARIZONA" MEMORIAL AND MET WITH

WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

>>> TO PHOENIX NOW.

HONORING A LIFE LOST NEARLY 60

YEARS AGO.

THE REMAINS OF PRIVATE 1st CLASS

DANIEL HUNT LAID TO REST AT THE

NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF

ARIZONA IN PHOENIX.

A TRIBUTE TO HIS SERVICE NOW

FROM MY COLLEAGUES, NATE HUFFMAN

AND DANIEL HOLDEN.

>> Reporter: FULL MILITARY

HONORS FOR PRIVATE 1st CLASS

DANIEL HUNT.

A BURIAL NEARLY SIX DECADES

AFTER HIS DEATH.

>> WELCOME HOME.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, DISTINGUISHED

GUESTS, FELLOW PATRIOTS AND ALL

THOSE INSPIRED BY PFC DANIEL

HUNT.

WITH THE GIFT OF DANIEL HUNT,

GOD BLOOETS NEW LIFE AND HOPE

INTO ALL OF US AND ESPECIALLY

ALL THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES

WHO COVET THIS MIRACLE.

>> Reporter: ON SEPTEMBER 28th,

1951, DANIEL AND OTHER U.S.

INFANTRY MEN WERE BARRAGED BY

MORTAR ATTACKS WHILE CONDUCTING

OPERATIONS EAST OF THE AREA

KNOWN AS HEARTBREAK RIDGE.

PFC HUNT WAS DECLARED MISSING IN

ACTION.

>> SUCH A YOUNG GUY.

IT'S KIND OF SAD THAT HE DIDN'T

HAVE A LIFE LIKE THE REST OF US.

>> Reporter: JUST 18 YEARS OLD

AT THE TIME, HE WAS 1 OF 17

CHILDREN FROM A FAMILY IN

MICHIGAN.

HIS NIECE GREW UP WITH HIM.

>> HE WAS MISSING IN ACTION.

AND THEN THEY DECLARED HIM DEAD

AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Reporter: THIS PAST FEBRUARY,

SOUTH KOREA HANDED OVER WHAT WAS

THOUGHT TO BE THE REMAINS OF

AMERICAN SOLDIERS TO THE UNITED

STATES.

>> WHEN I WAS CALLED FROM

KENTUCKY, THEY CALLED ME AND

ASKED, YOU KNOW -- TOLD ME.

I JUST COULDN'T HARDLY

UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE THING.

I MEAN IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE

THAT IT WAS HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: DNA ANALYSIS AND

OTHER CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

CONCLUDED DANIEL HAD BEEN FOUND,

GIVING HIS FAMILY CLOSURE.

DEBORAH IS HERE TO HONOR A GREAT

UNCLE SHE NEVER MET.

>> THIS IS PART OF HISTORY THAT

MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET TO

EXPERIENCE IT.

IT'S BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY GET

RE-ACQUAINTED WITH FAMILY AND

FIND OUT THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T

KNOW.

>> Reporter: A FAMILY REUNITED

AT LAST.

>> THE MAN I NEVER KNEW WOULD

BRING GREAT HONOR TO OUR NAME.

OUR FAMILY BROUGHT TOGETHER FROM

THIS DAY FORWARD WILL NEVER

SHALL THE SAME.

THE MAN I NEVER KNEW WOULD SOON

IMPART A MAGNITUDE OF LOVE,

GRATITUDE AND HONOR THAT HAS

FOREVER CHANGED OUR HEARTS.

AS THE STORY OF HIS RETURN CAME

TO REALITY, THE MAN I NEVER KNEW

CAME TO LIFE FOR ME.

WELCOME HOME, UNCLE DANIEL.

>> Reporter: PRIVATE 1st CLASS

DANIEL HUNT, A BRAVE SOLDIER,

AWARDED THREE PURPLE HEARTS IN

LESS THAN ONE MONTH OF SERVICE.

A TRIBUTE TO HONOR A HERO WHO

MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

HIS FAMILY GRATEFUL TO WELCOME

THEIR SOLDIER HOME TO AMERICAN

SOIL.

>> NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.

THAT'S BEEN OUR MESSAGE SINCE WE

STARTED.

NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.

BECAUSE EVEN IF THE PEOPLE THAT

KNEW THEM AREN'T HERE, THE

PEOPLE THAT REMAIN WILL BE HERE

AND DO THE SAME THING OUR FAMILY

DID.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM.

FOR ALL OF US AT ARIZONA PUBLIC