Staff Reports | Community Updates
GenTech, a community tech hub that provides personal tech support and STEM education programming, has launched the GenTech Foundation to bring its KidsTech program to more Valley schools.
As part of its launch, the foundation has partnered with the Phoenix District 7 office to provide $10,000 in funding to the Murphy Elementary School District, which will bring GenTech’s award-winning KidsTech program to Kuban Elementary for the 2024-25 school year, according to a press release.
The GenTech Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission of providing schools with funds and partnerships to help bridge the economic gap to implement STEM programs, the release states.
“We want every student to have access to high-quality, cutting-edge STEM education, and with the launch of the foundation we hope to ease the financial and staffing pressures on schools to make that a reality across Arizona,” said Dalton Abitt, president of GenTech Foundation, in a prepared statement.
“Our KidsTech programs bring top educators into the classroom to teach the latest in technology – from robotics to coding — preparing students for the growing number of STEM career opportunities available in our increasingly tech-focused world.”
GenTech’s KidTech program is providing industry-standard STEM education in over 300 classrooms and community centers throughout the Valley, giving schools a cost-effective and sustainable approach to teaching critical STEM skills.
“Robotics and STEM education is arriving at Kuban Elementary this school year and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Councilman Carlos Galindo-Elvira, in the release. “Through math and science, students will collaborate, problem solve and create not just robots, but opportunities and interests for their future. This public private partnership with GenTech and my office is an example of how private industry can support local needs in cultivating a future workforce. It all starts this fall in west Phoenix!”
The $10,000 grant provided by the GenTech Foundation and the Phoenix District 7 office will fund three hours of GenTech’s KidsTech program at Kuban Elementary each week, which will include custom curriculum taught by a highly trained GenTech instructor as well as access to materials, including $20,000 in robotics equipment.
“We are excited to be working with GenTech this year,” said Murphy Elementary School District superintendent Nate Dettmar. “We know that technology is our future, and this partnership will help us provide our students with the skills necessary to be successful in our ever-changing world. We are extremely appreciative to Councilman Galindo and his staff as well as all others involved in bringing this program to our campus. We are ready for a great school year.”
