During the decades we've both spent working closely with students, we have witnessed countless success stories within the Anchorage School District. We have watched kindergartners grow into bright, young adults, excited about the plethora of future opportunities; we have marveled at students who graduated with honors while overcoming difficult obstacles; and we have delighted in this community's investment of its time, talent and treasure in our classrooms.
The Anchorage School Business Partnership, a nonprofit corporation, has grown to include more than 600 partnerships with local businesses since its inception in 1991. To date, those partnerships have an annual economic value of more than $2.5 million, which impacts thousands of Anchorage students every year. Businesses and community agencies are matched with a school and center on student and curricular needs. These partnerships help provide educational opportunities that foster the development of our youngest citizens, our future workforce. Community support for our students is even more crucial now. The current times of economic uncertainty in Alaska have already taken a toll on public school funding.
One example of a business stepping forward to provide support for our schools is Chevron. It created a program called Fuel Your School, a collaboration between Chevron and DonorsChoose.org. With a purchase of eight gallons of gas or more at participating Chevron stations in October, the company will donate $1, up to $165,000, to help fund eligible materials and supplies that local teachers have requested for their classrooms through DonorsChoose.org. By meeting the specific needs of a class, the program not only expands a student's educational opportunities, but it also assists our teachers, who on average spend more than $400 out of pocket to pay for school supplies and instructional materials annually. Our teachers pour their own personal resources as well as many hours beyond the school day to assist kids. It is wonderful that Chevron recognizes this and is showing their appreciation and support for our teachers by offering this funding opportunity in the municipality of Anchorage; the boroughs of Matanuska-Susitna, Kenai Peninsula, Fairbanks North Star and Denali; and the city of Nenana.
Nationwide and in Alaska, we're seeing a strong support for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in the curriculum. Chevron's Fuel Your School encourages teachers to request materials that focus on STEM education, to arm students with the critical skills they will need to help them succeed in jobs of the future. By supporting STEM learning, we are better positioning students for careers as scientists, medical professionals and engineers — jobs in industries that are key drivers of our local economy. Businesses like Chevron are investing in our schools and are making a difference.
Our confidence in an improving education system is also validated by the steady increase in Anchorage's graduation rates over the past decade, up 20 percent to 80.2 percent in 2014-2015, thanks in part to the United Way's 90 by 2020 initiative. This partnership of businesses, nonprofit organizations, local government and the education community is working collectively to raise Anchorage graduation rates to 90 percent as well as improve kindergarten readiness, eighth-grade math success and employability of our future workforce.
The Anchorage School District's Destination 2020 strategic plan has four pillars: focusing on students, investing in staff, engaging the community and strengthening services — goals that are attainable, but require a collective effort. As community leaders, educators, mothers, fathers, grandparents and Alaskans, we need to work together to support and fund innovative programs, especially those which offer students hands-on learning opportunities that develop critical thinking and employability skills. We hope it's an investment of time, talent and resources our community is willing to make.
Tam Agosti-Gisler is a member of the Anchorage School Board and spent 22 years as a public school teacher in Anchorage.
Cheri Spink is the executive director of the Anchorage School Business Partnership. She has been involved with the Anchorage School District for decades, serving as a community schools organizer and volunteer.
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