PHOENIX, AZ, MARCH 16th, 2021 - The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) is pleased to announce the hiring of Renee Levin who will fill the newly created position of “Equity Champion” for the beloved organization.
Levin is a well-respected and well-known leader throughout Arizona. She joined the staff of Intel in 1995 and spent 24 years in Public Affairs and the last 15 years as Community Affairs Manager, where she had oversight of Intel’s community grants and strategic relationships. She also managed Intel Arizona’s K-12 education programs and Intel’s neighbor relations program. In 2009, she joined the Board of the Arizona Educational Foundation where she has watched the organization grow and thrive.
“I am thrilled to join the staff of AEF as Equity Champion,” states Levin. “Although I’m sad to be stepping down from the AEF Board, this new role will enable me to continue working with the Foundation and fulfilling my personal belief that all children deserve equal access to a quality education. I am hopeful that my experience at Intel as well as the work I’ve done with the East Valley STEM Alliance will be beneficial in my new role.”
As Equity Champion, Levin will work with AEF’s teachSTEM and Our World programs, both new initiatives which serve underrepresented populations and strive to inspire Students of Color to pursue the teaching profession. Both utilize the talents of Arizona Teachers of the Year as well as other master educators throughout the state.
Providing programs to support public education in Arizona has been AEF’s mission since it was founded in 1983 by then Superintendent of Public Instruction, Carolyn Warner. According to Warner’s daughter, Christi Warner Beyer, who also serves on the AEF Board, expanding AEF’s work to include programs that increase diversity in both the STEM and education workforce would make Carolyn proud. “Mother was always a champion for the un-championed,” states Warner-Beyer. “She would be proud to see the way AEF is expanding and responding to this vital need in our state.”
AEF’s teachSTEM is a highly unique program for junior high and high school students that raises awareness about the need for more STEM teachers. teachSTEM provides classroom-based opportunities for students to build STEM workforce skills and also learn from STEM subject matter experts who speak about the teachers who inspired them. Our World is AEF’s new anti-racism and equity program launched in January 2021. Our World provides training to support schools, districts, and businesses with meeting and committing to equity, diversity, and inclusion goals. Both programs create awareness around the need for more Students of Color to enter the education profession.
“AEF is incredibly lucky to have someone of Renee’s expertise joining our staff,” states Kim Graham, Executive Director. “Her work in the community and expert knowledge of STEM and the technology sector will strengthen AEF’s ability and reach in communities statewide.”
Levin officially joined the AEF staff on March 15th. Her open Board seat will be filled by a member of the Intel community.
About Arizona Educational Foundation:
The mission of AEF is to identify, support and celebrate excellence in Pre-K-12th grade Arizona public education through business and community partnerships. This is accomplished through a variety of programs for teachers, administrators, and students. Some programs shine a spotlight on excellence; others provide a stepping stone to help support schools and educators on the road to awesomeness. In addition to the Arizona Teacher of the Year program, AEF also coordinates the Arizona State Spelling Bee, the A+ School of Excellence Award, the Principals Leadership Academy of Arizona, teachSTEM, and Take Your Legislator to School. AEF was founded in 1983 by then State Superintendent of Public Education, Carolyn Warner, who felt a nonprofit needed to be established to champion public education and recognize the great work of public school educators. AEF annually reaches over 500,000 students, teachers and administrators throughout Arizona. For more information, visit www.azedfoundation.org or contact Kim Graham at kim@azedfoundation.org.
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