Letter From Exec. Director - Fall 2011

Hello!

Each year, the Deer Valley Education Foundation raises funds for educational enrichment
programs for the students and teachers of the Deer Valley School District. Because of
programs we fund, students are presented with science challenges and math projects,
doors are opened to music appreciation, art is showcased, and history is brought alive for
thousands of students in our Deer Valley Schools. Future astronauts and pilots attend
Space Camp through our scholarships and high school juniors and seniors interested in the
health care field are offered dual enrollment scholarships and CTE. We also honor our
teachers and nurses each year with our Teacher of the Year and Nurse of the Year
celebrations.

For over 25 years, The Deer Valley Education Foundation has enriched the educational
experience in Deer Valley School District classrooms. Schools do not receive state or
federal funding for classroom pilot projects or expanding programs, nor is there money
for rewarding teachers for the outstanding dedication they exhibit to our children. These
are part of the experiences we add to the District.

We do what we can to raise the standards of education within our community to support
programs that strengthen our children’s educational experience, not only by supporting
their academic adventures, but also helping to build their character. Our goal is to meet
the needs of every child in every school.

Many businesses throughout our community partner with The Deer Valley Education,
including employee matching programs. DVUSD employees contribute to the Foundation
through payroll deductions. We are a United Way participant (write in agency code #836)
and we also have an annual golf fundraiser and auction – call for details on marketing
opportunities or foursome information. We are partners with Get Away Today Travel
Service, and of course we accept contributions, of which ½ can be designated to the
DVUSD school of your choice.

Please contact us at (623) 445-5012 or e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional
information or if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Marie Brennan

Marie Brennan
Executive Director

Health Care Scholarships to any DVU School District Junior or Senior

The Deer Valley Education Foundation in partnership with the Legacy Foundation is offering Health Care Scholarships to any Deer Valley Unified School District Junior or Senior interested in pursuing a career in Health Sciences.   Scholarships are available to offset the cost of course supplies, textbooks, dual enrollment credit and certification exams in the following three courses: 

• Dental Assisting
• EMT
• Nursing. 

Scholarships are based on academic achievement, extra-curricular activities and financial need.  Scholarship applications here or in your high school counseling office.

DVEF - 2010/2011 Accomplishments

DVEF Science Center
DVEF’s proudest accomplishment this year is voting to fund $30,000 for the DVEF Science
Center. The Science Center will enable a centralized location to restock and organize the FOSS
Science kits that will be distributed to teachers. Without this Science Center, the FOSS Program is
hard for teachers to use. This center removes the obstacles for teachers and makes it easy for
them to teach these science lessons.

Impact Grants
Impact grants that we distributed in December totaled almost $12,000, were awarded to 54
teachers from 28 of our schools and impacted over 9,200 students. Teachers reported increased
reading, math, and science skills as a result of these grants. Students, age Kindergarten through
High School were challenged with “out of the box” learning opportunities. Art was brought back
to some classrooms, students learned math through quilting, newspapers were published in
Middle Schools, and High School special needs students learned interviewing and life skills. A
couple of schools even enhanced their PE programs thanks to these grants.

College Bound Student Dual Enrollment / AP Scholarship Program
Our Dual Enrollment/AP Test Scholarship Program provided over $9,000 to 25 students from all 5
of our high schools to cover the fees for their Advanced Placement tests and/or college classes
while attending high school (dual enrollment classes). This scholarship is offered to students
interested in pursuing a health care. It covers the student’s cost of the program plus text books if
applicable. To qualify to apply, students must be a high school junior or senior, have an interest
in pursuing a health care and exhibit financial need.

JDRF Awareness Community Grants
November is JDRF Awareness Month. The Deer Valley Education Foundation offers community
grants to any school, school organization, club, etc. who were involved in raising awareness of
Juvenile Diabetes Research during the month of November. We funded just over $5,000 to 13
schools.

College and Career Fair
Another program DVEF sponsored was the Annual DVUSD College and Career Fair which took
place in January. Over 50 companies and colleges were invited to take part in this event that
drew sophomore - senior high school students from all our high schools. This event was an
overwhelming success once again. The feedback was all so positive!

Teachers /1st Year Teacher / Administrator / School Nurse of the Year
DVEF honored 15 DVUSD seasoned teachers and 1 first year teacher for DVEF’s 2010-2011
Teachers of the Year and Rookie of the Year Program. These teachers were honored in May at a
very special celebration and dinner that they will remember for the rest of their lives. One of our
teachers is a top 5 Arizona Teacher of the Year finalist. This is our 4th year honoring a school
administrator. This year, DVEF also honored a school nurse, surprising her at her school to award
her in front of students and school staff.

Space Camp Scholarship
Two DVUSD middle school “future astronauts” blasted off to Space Academy in Huntsville,
Alabama this summer as recipients of DVEF’s Space Camp scholarships. Applicants submitted an
essay to The Deer Valley Education Foundation outlining “Why I Want to Attend Space Academy.”
Semi-finalists were interviewed by an independent panel of judges. Semi-finalists each received
a US Savings Bond.

Scholarship Opportunity

 

 

BHHS LEGACY FOUNDATION
and
DEER VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Announce
DUAL ENROLLMENT/AP TEST SCHOLARSHIP  OPPORTUNITY

Thanks to BHHS Legacy Foundation, the Deer Valley Education Foundation is able to offer scholarships to aid financially eligible DVUSD junior and senior high school students who have an interest in any type of medical career. This scholarship will pay for dual enrollment classes and/or cover the costs of AP exams.

Read more: Scholarship Opportunity

DVEF New Board Members

Welcome DVEF new Board Members:

• Dena Cunningham, Vice President, Finance and Ethics Officer at ACSS.  She is also DVEF's new treasurer.
• Kathy Northrop, Director of Pediatric Services and Mendy’s Place at John C. Lincoln Hospital – Deer Valley.
• Maren Rosendahl ,  PTA President at Diamond Canyon School
• Matt Bradford, Vice President, Foundation & Institutional Advisory Services at Northern Trust
• Brad Kramer, President/ CEO of Grads Photography

Contribute To DVEF Via United Way

YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO DVEF THROUGH UNITED WAY
Please consider donating to the Deer Valley Education Foundation through your United Way payroll deductions.  All you need to do is write in our agency code (#836) and our agency name is Deer Valley Education Foundation (DVEF).  This is all the info you need to direct your funds to The Deer Valley Education Foundation. If you have any questions please be sure to contact Marie Brennan at 623-445-5012, and thanks again so much!!

Read more: Contribute To DVEF Via United Way

DVUSD Announces $30K Gift for Science

PHOENIX, Ariz. – May 3, 2011 – The Deer Valley Education Foundation (DVEF) donated $30,000 to the Deer Valley Unified School District to start a Science Resource Center (SRC) to be located in the Materials District Center. It is the largest grant DVEF has awarded the district. The funding will be used to pay for the support of shelves and other necessary supplies to stock Full Option Science System (FOSS) kits, a research-based science curriculum for grades K-6 developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley.

Read more: DVUSD Announces $30K Gift for Science