The Sunnyside District was delighted to host Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and State Representative, Daniel Hernandez, Jr. on a tour of Desert View High School's iSTEM Academy on Friday, February 15th. Desert View students led the tour which included visits to engineering classrooms, precision manufacturing workspaces, computer aided design classrooms, engineering workshops and precision measurement labs.

Governor Ducey’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget seeks $10 million in support of Career and Technical Education programs to expand Arizona’s competitive workforce and prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. Desert View High School offers early college pathways in Precision Manufacturing in partnership with Pima Community College that provide students opportunities to earn certificates, industry certification and a fast track into associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. Students who participate in Desert View’s early college pathway can earn 25 credits towards their associate’s degree at no cost, while still in high school.

The iSTEM Academy at Desert View High School supports students with career interests in manufacturing and technology through small, learning communities within its comprehensive high school. The Academy of Aerospace iSTEM and Digital Technology provides students with hands-on training in software and equipment used in high-precision machining and engineering fields. This academy also prepares students for careers in computer science, aviation, and other fields.

With more than 24 career and technical education programs across six college and career academies, the Sunnyside Unified School District is preparing students to become the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. Graduates of CTE programs are ready to enter the workforce and fill the high-tech jobs to power the ‘Silicon Desert’.