The Arizona Teacher Adjunct Program was created as a partnership between Intel, the State Board of Education, and community partners to address a teacher shortage in math and science resulting from increased graduation requirements. Intel employees received training to serve as teacher adjuncts, spending time in classrooms to help more students learn advanced math and science concepts. Two Intel employees began volunteering in an AP Calculus class, working one-on-one with students who struggled. Their involvement helped improve grades and student understanding. Intel supports the program by providing employee time and funding for adjuncts to earn a Master's in Education. The program now has four adjuncts mentoring over 160 students in math skills.

1. CASE STUDY
The Arizona Teacher Adjunct Program
The Project
“Intel showed its
Intel firmly believes that today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators. As part of our
education initiative, we want today’s students to have the math and science skills committment to the
required to be successful in the global economy. So when the Arizona Board of need to increase the
Education raised its math and science requirements for high school graduation, Intel
and the local business community strongly supported the initiative. However, a needs pool of quality math
assessment revealed that raising these requirements would aggravate what was and science teachers
already a serious teacher shortage. To help meet this need, Intel, in partnership with by stepping up to
the State Board of Education and with community partners, created the Arizona
Teacher Adjunct Initiative. This initiative brings specially trained Intel employees into the plate.”
classrooms during the day to extend the teachers’ reach and to help more students --Arizona Department of
to understand the advanced curriculum. Education Superintendant
Tom Horne
The Opportunity
As a leader in the Arizona community, Intel strongly supported the initiative to raise math and science requirements. When the
initiative passed, Intel’s US Education Manager Carlos Contreras worked closely with the stakeholders on how Intel could make
an impact in addressing the teacher shortage. From this collaboration, the Teacher Adjunct Initiative was born. “Intel
employees, who are always eager to share their knowledge with kids, volunteered to take part in the program that would bring
them into the classroom to help the teachers and students meet these new requirements. Working together with the Arizona
Department of Education, Intel was able to turn a good idea into a practical solution,” said Contreras.
Employees Julie Rumer and Michelle Ryan, both Test Analysts at Intel’s Chandler, Arizona, campus, were the first to volunteer
for the program. They took a rigorous teacher-training program provided by the State Board of Education. This 30-hour
training equipped them with basic classroom skills, from how to manage a class to working with individual students and what
they could expect from today’s high school students. They were also trained on teaching methodologies for the curriculum
they would be presenting.
Today, they spend five hours a week with the students in Carol Baldwin’s AP Calculus class at Chandler High School. The
adjuncts reach their junior and senior math students on a personal level. They bring real-world applications to their lessons.
Their help extends the teacher’s reach and ensures all learners understand the advanced concepts. This “on-the ground”
involvement made an immediate difference to both students and teachers.
“There are some kids in the classroom wouldn’t otherwise do as well,” says Rumer. “I think the kids who struggle to be better
are the ones we’re really making a difference for. When we work one-on-one with them, they ‘get it’ faster, and that can really
help them bring up their grades. “
Our Investment in Arizona Schools
Intel supports the program by providing time away from work so the adjuncts can be in the classroom. Today four adjuncts
mentor more than 160 students in the mathematics skills they will need for graduation, and will use for the rest of their lives.
Due to the success of the program, many more Intel volunteers have signed up. They’ll be ready to go into classrooms next
year.
“Four Intel adjuncts are so excited about their teaching experiences that Intel is further providing all their adjuncts with the
opportunity to earn their Master’s degree in Education, funded by Intel.” said Arizona Department of Education Superintendant
Tom Horne. “Intel showed its committment to the need to increase the pool of quality math and science teachers by stepping
up to the plate.”
Around the world, Intel sites support outreach programs that address the priorities and concerns of its surrounding
communities through grants, employee volunteering and donations. To find out more, visit www.intel.com/community.