Education Partnerships Committee
Greater Downtown Phoenix is recognized as offering unparalleled educational opportunities for all learners.
From early-childhood education through higher education, education is a vital component of successful economic development and is essential for a thriving urban core.
CHAIR
Greg Falls, Taft
VICE CHAIR
Kristin Gubser, Gateway Community College
THE COMMITTEE
Education is a vital component of successful economic development and is essential for a thriving urban core.
The PCA Education Committee works with educational institutions to support educational and workforce opportunities in Greater Downtown Phoenix.
The Committee collaboratively promotes the importance of education in Greater Downtown Phoenix and fosters an environment of sustainable support from the business community.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
Strengthen Education Members’ programs by identifying initiatives the Committee aligns with and building supportive partnerships with Corporate Members. Initiatives include these 2025 Member programs: • Educator ProConnect • Million Dollar Teacher Project Take A Teacher to Lunch • Arizona Educational Foundation Spheres of Industry.
Increase the Committee’s knowledge of Arizona’s complex education funding issues, including: • Expenditure limit challenges • General fund prop 123 • Vouchers • Tobacco Tax Revenue.
2025 PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA
Advocate for funding mechanisms and programs to address current critical education issues, including teacher shortages and pay, the lack of affordable housing for educators, and others (i.e., reformulating the Arizona Public Schools Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) and additional resources for the Arizona Teachers Academy).
Advocate for the growth and advancement of community colleges, universities, and their related research efforts in Greater Downtown Phoenix, including investment for all three state universities on the Phoenix Bioscience Core, Arizona State University Downtown Campus expansion, and the Maricopa County Community College ecosystem.
Advocate for broader support for public schools and publicly funded charter schools, with a focus on pre-K education/early childhood education, while ensuring that all students facing housing insecurity have access to the necessary resources and school stability.
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We are so grateful to join such a powerful organization making a true difference in the communities we serve.
