On September 22, 2025, 58 students from 18 schools within the Gilbert Public Schools District (GPS) convened at the GPS Global Academy for a Leadership Training Institute (LTI) as part of their roles as Chief Science Officers (CSOs). These students, who are in grades six through twelve, represent the largest single district delegation of CSOs in the United States.
The LTI serves as an introductory session for new CSOs, focusing on essential program skills and fostering collaboration among peers. The training is intended to help students identify opportunities for growth within STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—and to develop solutions known as Action Plans. According to organizers, these plans are designed through collaboration with both peers and STEM professionals to encourage advocacy within schools and the community.
During the event, students engaged in exercises that emphasized leadership values, effective communication strategies, and setting clear SMART goals for their projects. Organizers highlighted that CSOs are encouraged to use critical and creative thinking skills as they work toward positive change within their schools.
Each Chief Science Officer is expected to complete at least one Action Plan annually. These projects address a need or problem related to STEM within their school or community. At the LTI, participants began drafting their Initial Action Plan Forms; these can be completed individually or in groups. Over the coming months, CSOs will refine and implement projects that may focus on career awareness by bringing local STEM professionals into schools, developing partnerships with local organizations to address community challenges identified by students, or building connections between different grade levels’ STEM programs.
Some GPS schools have already started pipeline development efforts this year. For instance, Mesquite High engineering students recently visited Oak Tree Elementary to introduce sixth graders to coding and engineering through hands-on activities.
The following GPS schools participated in this year’s LTI: Boulder Creek Elementary; Canyon Rim Elementary; Carol Rae Ranch Elementary; Desert Ridge High; Desert Ridge Junior High; Finley Farms Elementary; Gilbert Classical Academy; Highland High; Highland Junior High; Highland Park Elementary; Meridian Elementary School; Mesquite Elementary; Neely Traditional Academy; Oak Tree Elementary; Pioneer Elementary; Quartz Hill Elementary; South Valley Junior High; and Val Vista Lakes Elementary.
A spokesperson noted: “The goal is for students to identify opportunities for growth and to create innovative solutions called Action Plans through collaboration with peers and STEM professionals that set them on a path to become STEM advocates.”
To learn more about teaching initiatives across GPS schools, visit https://www.gilbertschools.net/teaching-learning.
