AEF Receives Grant from BHHS Legacy Foundation to Launch Rural School Mentorship Program
Share
The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) is proud to announce it has been awarded a grant from the Tri-State Region BHHS Legacy Foundation to expand its reach into Mohave County, supporting three rural districts: Mohave Valley Elementary School District, Colorado River Union High School District, and Topock School District.
The funding will launch Pathways to A+, a new pilot mentoring program designed to guide schools in these communities toward achieving the prestigious A+ School of Excellence® Award. In addition, the grant will bring the only Cox Innovation Lab in the nation for educators—based at AEF headquarters—directly to these districts through a mobile lab model, ensuring rural teachers have access to transformative training in robotics, virtual reality, 3-D printing, microelectronics, and other cutting-edge technologies.
“This project directly supports AEF’s strategic goal of fostering educational excellence in Arizona’s rural communities,” said Kim Graham, CEO of AEF. “Through principal mentorship, school collaboration, and access to innovative teacher training, we aim to empower these districts to create vibrant, high-performing school cultures that reflect the A+ standard.”
A central feature of Pathways to A+ is the creation of a trusted professional learning network among principals and teachers across the three districts. These peer-to-peer connections will build lasting communities of practice that focus on elevating instruction, culture, and leadership in public education.
“The A+ School of Excellence Award is more than a recognition—it’s a pathway to sustainable school improvement and community pride,” said Teri Tomlinson, Vice President of Program Development at BHHS Legacy Foundation. “We’re proud to support this initiative that honors the incredible work of public-school educators and strengthens our rural school systems.”
Since its inception in 1983, AEF’s A+ School of Excellence® program has served as a benchmark for exemplary public schools in Arizona and was originally developed as the state’s mechanism for nominating National Blue Ribbon Schools to the U.S. Department of Education. Hundreds of schools have earned the designation, which is recognized statewide as a symbol of outstanding achievement and continuous improvement.
The Cox Innovation Lab, launched in December 2024 through the generosity of Cox Charities, is the first of its kind in the nation focused exclusively on teacher training. By taking the Lab “on the road,” AEF is ensuring that even the most remote schools in Arizona are empowered with the tools, training, and inspiration needed to bring future-focused learning to life.