OVERVIEW:

Initiatives involving education reform, along with efforts to continuously improve K-16 education programs often fall short of expectation due to the absence of systemic thinking. With this in mind, in 1995, Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) and Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) formed Learning Connections, a consortium of educational institutions in the North Valley. In addition to PVCC and PVUSD, the third largest K-12 district in the state, consortium membership includes Arizona State University West, Northern Arizona University, Rio College Deer Valley Unified School District and the Cave Creek Unified School District, one of the fastest growing K-12 districts in Arizona.

Learning Connections has an impressive roster of accomplishments that flow largely from the uniqueness of its systems-based approach, organizational structure and targeted focus on systemic solutions.

The Consortium was recently recognized as a recipient of the 2001 Phoenix Education Partnership Award presented by the City of Phoenix Youth and Education Commission. Learning Connections is also a past recipient of the Innovation of the Year Award co-sponsored by the League of Innovation and the Maricopa County Community College District.

• Learning Connections Consortium recently co-sponsored Dr. Betty Siegel’s keynote address, “The Value of Connectedness,” held at Paradise Valley Community College on August 21, 2001. Over 180 Maricopa County Community College District employees, Learning Connections Consortium members, North Valley community and civic leaders attended this event which shared a compelling message about our role as connectors within our communities and within our organizations. This address was videotaped and can be seen on MCTV, the Maricopa County Community College District cable network, throughout this semester.

• Learning Connections Consortium received a commendation from the City of Phoenix Youth and Education Commission for outstanding effort and involvement in education partnerships and was inducted to the 2001 Phoenix Education Partnership Honor Roll

• Learning Connections was nominated as one of the 1996-1997 Innovation of the Year Award Program designees, co-sponsored by the Maricopa Community College District and the League for Innovation in the Community College. This program recognizes an
individual or a team of employees who have designed and implemented a significant innovation that has had a positive impact on the education of students.

• The Science Reform Focus Team hosted Nobel Laureate (Physics) Leon Lederman for three consecutive years. In addition to facilitating meetings and colloquiums with students and faculty, Dr. Lederman has assisted Learning Connections faculty and administration in reconceptualizing and restructuring K-16 science education.

• The Faculty and Staff Development Focus Team has planned and implemented a seminar series for faculty and staff from Learning Connections member institutions around such topics as portfolios, multiple intelligences and brain research. This focus team has also sponsored two Kagan Collaborative Learning Institutes for over 400 K-12 and community college faculty.

• The Cultural Diversity Focus Team co-sponsored two presentations of "The Gift," a program that addresses diversity in our communities, schools and workplaces. Over 1500 employees and students received "The Gift."

• The Service Learning Focus Team has produced a video to encourage student and teacher involvement in service learning activities in the North Valley.

• The Careers in Education Focus Team plans and implements annual career seminars for K-16 students who are interested in becoming teachers. This focus team is also coordinating a 2+2+2 program, called the Teacher Connection, which takes high school
students that are interested in teaching through a planned educational track that can eventually lead to a full time position within the Cave Creek Unified School District and Paradise Valley Unified School District.

• The Math Reform Focus Team plans and implements professional development programs for K-16 faculty including annual summer seminars. This focus team has been awarded state grants to support their math reform activities for four consecutive years.