On one of the last days of the school year during a school-wide Engineering Challenge, SARSEF’s Chief Programs Officer Dani Wright presented the SARSEF Endorsed School Award to the science teachers and administrators of Sonoran Science Academy in Tucson.
The SARSEF Endorsed School Award is a three year designation awarded to exemplary schools in Arizona who show clear dedication to innovation, equity, and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
To receive the SARSEF Endorsed School Award, schools must demonstrate their diligence and commitment to equity, accessibility, and diversity of STEM culture and opportunities within the school. SARSEF is pleased to award Sonoran Science Academy this designation, and recognizes the work of teachers, administrators, caretakers, mentors, and support staff that help create the exemplary STEM culture at Sonoran Science Academy.
“We deeply believe in building a true culture of STEM across our K–12 campus where students are not just learning science, but actively engaging in inquiry, research, engineering, innovation, and problem-solving every single day. STEM is part of the identity of Sonoran Science Academy, and with over 20 years of STEM excellence, we wanted to continue expanding opportunities for students to think critically, create, collaborate, and solve real-world problems from kindergarten through senior year.” – Joshua De Weerd, Principal
Sonoran Science Academy explained the use of vertical learning structures in their approach to STEM education. Older students use and synthesize their knowledge to mentor younger students in new science and engineering concepts. 4th grade students collaborate with pre-K and kindergarten teachers and students during STEM challenges in the spring. Sonoran Science Academy cites pairings like these as foundational to their school STEM identity.
Each year, Sonoran Science Academy holds a science fair. Over 400 students in the last school year completed original research on a topic that interested them, and 60 projects advanced to the SARSEF Fair in March 2026.
“Every year, we have done science projects, either with the class or individually, as every student does in the school. This year, my 5th grader took the science fair to a new level by doing his own coding project. The Sonoran Science Academy teacher supported a group of coding students in the development and submission of their projects…In the weeks after the fair, my son has talked of little else than new ideas for next year’s science project” – Rachel Ray, parent of Sonoran Science Academy students.
Sonoran Science Academy is recognized by SARSEF through the Endorsed School Award for their commitment to:
- Sustainable STEM culture throughout the school
- Equity and diversity in STEM experiences
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving development in students through science and engineering
- Science communication with students and the community
- Dedication to innovation as a school
“Our goal is to ensure every student sees themselves reflected in STEM, feels supported in pursuing it, and understands their capacity to contribute meaningfully to future innovation.” – Joshua De Weerd, Principal
Learn more about the SARSEF Endorsed School Award:https://sarsef.org/programs/workshops-and-outreach/sarsef-endorsed-school/
