Cori Araza

Cori Araza has been a classroom instructor for seventeen years in the areas of Computer Information Systems, Spanish and ESL at the secondary and community college levels. She has most recently joined the Strategic Education Alliance team at GCU as the Director of STEM Outreach and Program Development for K12 and has conducted the STEM Ready and Canyon Inquiry series face to face and online. She currently works with industry and university professors to bring STEM instruction to schools around the valley in the areas of Cybersecurity, Engineering, Computer Science and Bioscience. Having lived in Mexico and Spain, her global connections allow for a connection beyond technology although she understands the power of the Internet to build and nurture relationships.

She led two robust student technology leadership programs at Paradise Valley High School serving over 1800 students and staff. Under such programs she helped to build two Makerspaces on campus and transformed the library into the Technology Media Space equipped with VR app development, 3D Printing and active coding technologies. In addition, these student driven programs continue to provide educators throughout the district with quality PD in technology throughout the school year.  In the World Language teaching arena, she has presented to the AZ Language Association as the technology showcase instructor and has earned awards in language instruction with educational technology. She earned Google Certified Educator status in 2013 and has won recognition for Makerspace Development through the AZ Science Center. She is a Jedi Mentor for the Chief Science Officer Program, a STEM Network for 6-12 grade students and works with the Girl Scouts organization to bring Cybersecurity education to girls.