Community educators assist in accelerating academic recovery

The challenge

Data clearly shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to instructional loss and unfinished learning among all Arizona students with disproportionate effects on students from low-income backgrounds, students with special needs and students who do speak English as a first language. Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College proposed a project that will systematically add additional capacity to Arizona’s educator workforce by intentionally bringing members of the community, with training and support, into our K–12 learning environments. Not only will these community educators bring much-needed capacity to help accelerate academic recovery, but they will also help meet the socio-emotional needs of our most vulnerable learners.

The approach

When schools and communities build strong connections, students benefit. But making connections is not always easy and making connections matter can be challenging. In partnership with schools and community organizations, MLFTC is building tools, resources and opportunities to increase the number and coordination of community educators positively influencing students. Community educators are youth-serving professionals and volunteers who provide capacity and insight in service of deepening and personalizing student learning. They enrich learning environments by forging authentic relationships, sharing expertise and expanding networks.

• Engaging schools: We engage with school systems, leaders and educators to build the skills and mindsets to partner with community educators in effective ways.
• Supporting community educators: We support the field of community educators, including volunteers, organizations and industries by preparing them to take on meaningful roles within schools and to answer the call for people-powered support for students.

Findings and impact

Between spring 2022 and September 2024, AZCE will directly bring at least 1,200 new community educators into Arizona’s educator workforce as reading tutors, student success coaches and project-based mentors.

• These individuals will directly influence more than 10,000 K–12 learners across Arizona with strategic deployment in Title I schools.
• This investment will also indirectly affect thousands of additional community educators, classroom teachers, school and system-level leaders, and thousands of K–12 learners by networking existing community educator organizations, providing online training and building resources and systems that will help sustain community educators as an integral part of the Arizona educator workforce after funding ends.

Related links