Today, we’re highlighting an exciting new initiative at Laguna Prep, one of the recipients of SUSD’s 2025–26 Innovation Startup Grants.

Through this grant, Laguna is expanding its makerspace by integrating robotics and other STEAM technologies, giving Pre-K through 5th grade students more opportunities for hands-on, creative learning.

Today, we’re spotlighting one of the 2025–2026 recipients of SUSD’s Innovation Startup Grants, an initiative that celebrates educators transforming teaching and learning through creativity, collaboration, and hands-on exploration.

We’re joined by Katie Khan and Susan Green from Tavan Elementary School, the team behind Tavan Makers in Motion, a makerspace that gives students hands-on opportunities to design, create, and solve problems through authentic, cross-curricular projects.

This space will foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, preparing students for future academic and career success.

Kiva Elementary has been named a 2026 A+ School of Excellence® by the Arizona Educational Foundation, a prestigious honor that recognizes schools going above and beyond in all the ways that matter most. Joining us today to talk about being recognized as an A+ School of Excellence is principal Matt Gromek and Assistant Principal Rebecca Pentland.

Today, we’re excited to feature teacher Ginna Cummings and principal Amanda Rand from Redfield Elementary School to talk about Unlocking Learning for Student Innovation, one of the 2025–2026 recipients of SUSD’s Innovation Startup Grants.

In her classroom, Ginna is bringing learning to life through gamified, hands-on experiences that engage students in collaborative problem solving. Students are building critical thinking skills, strengthening teamwork, and deepening their understanding of content, all while ensuring every learner is supported, including those developing English language skills.

In this episode, we’ll explore how creativity, collaboration, and innovation are shaping the classroom of tomorrow.

Today we are highlighting a classroom at Coronado that has been transformed into something truly special. The Coronado Innovation Lab is an inclusive makerspace designed for special education students with cognitive and motor delays. Using immersive Augmented Reality tools and hands-on exploration, the lab removes learning barriers and helps students engage with STEM in creative and meaningful ways.

This innovative project was also recognized as one of five recipients of SUSD’s 2025–2026 Innovation Startup Grants, which celebrate educators who are transforming teaching and learning through creativity, collaboration, and hands on experiences.

Joining us today to share the story behind the Innovation Lab are teacher Jennifer Kinsey and assistant principal Chad Johnson.

Today’s episode is all about a powerful idea: Math Powers Possibility. In SUSD, math is more than numbers on a page. It’s problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and confidence. It’s about giving every student the tools to explore, discover, and see what’s possible for their future.

So what does Math Powers Possibility really look like in action and how is it changing the way students experience math, and why does it matter for their future? That’s what we’re exploring today.

In this episode of SUSD Spotlight, we’re taking you behind the scenes of something truly magical at Hohokam Elementary.

For 17 weeks, students rehearsed twice a week, building confidence, strengthening teamwork, and discovering a love for the arts. Their hard work culminated in a performance of The Jungle Book Kids, as one of just five schools selected to participate in the Disney Musicals in Schools program.

And the best part? They even performed one of their songs on the prestigious ASU Gammage stage.

Joining the show are third grader Olivia, fourth graders Elon and Cooper, 2nd grade teacher and music director Lindsay Neville, and principal Maggie Finan, all sharing how this unforgettable experience came to life.