Hello, EVIT parents! Welcome to the 2021-22 school year at the East Valley Institute of Technology. This is the first in a series of newsletters to give you more information about EVIT and how your family can get the most out of career and technical education. Today’s topic: We’re here to help.

This year marks EVIT’s 30^th anniversary. For three decades, EVIT has been changing lives by loving our students and serving our community. That’s our mission, but what does it mean? Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson said it best in a recent column: It means that we strive to provide the same care and advantages for all students as we would want for our own children. We provide the communities served by EVIT the same quality opportunities that we want for ourselves and for our families.

That’s a big task. But EVIT has many people on staff who are ready, able and eager to meet that mission and provide your students with career and technical education that will start them on a path toward a career they will love.

Meet Your Power Campus Principal

Principal John Corsaro has worked in education for 22 years.

Q: Why did you decide to become an educator?

A: I always loved science and enjoyed talking about it to others. I also have a number of educators in my family.

Q: What is the main thing parents can do to help ensure their student has a great year at EVIT?

A: Be supportive of our teachers and staff. Communicate with them as much as possible. Monitor your students' progress.

Q: If you were a student and could take an EVIT program, which one would you take and why?

A: I would take the Future Engineers class. I excelled in science and math in school. 

Q: Why is your campus a great place for students to learn?

A: We are a family at the Power Campus. We support each other. We have the best teachers and staff here.  Also, our teachers always have the students' best interest in mind.

Power Campus parents, the best way to reach Mr. Corsaro is by emailing him at [email protected].

Meet Your Main Campus Principal 

Principal Danny Fisher has worked in education for 10 years.

Q: Why did you decide to become an educator?

A: Because I was working too hard to make rich people even richer instead of enriching lives. If I was going to be working 50-60 hours a week, I wanted my time and efforts to go towards some things that enrich the entire community.

Q: What is the main thing parents can do to help ensure their student has a great year at EVIT?

A: Talk to your sons and daughters about how important professionalism (being on time, doing their best, dressing for the job they want, etc.) is and how that relates to being successful at work and school.

Q: If you were a student and could take an EVIT program, which one would you take and why?

A: I would be frozen by having too many choices. I want to learn how to weld so I can fabricate many of the "wants" I have in my personal life. I'd also really like to elevate my very basic computer programming skills because I have several great ideas for apps that would make my own life easier. Then I think of Fire Science and many of the activities they get to engage in. See, I'm frozen and can't even make a hypothetical choice. 

Q: Why is your campus a great place for students to learn?

A: The teaching staff! Hands down this is the number one reason why this is a great place to learn. Our teachers have a ton of relevant industry experience and have chosen to continue their careers assisting others to become experts in their respective fields. Seeing people connect about a common passion is amazing, and this is a regular occurrence between our teachers and students each day.

Main Campus parents, the best way to reach Mr. Fisher for matters that are not time-sensitive is [email protected]. If you have an issue that is time sensitive, please call the Main Campus receptionist at (480) 461-4000.

A guiding hand

EVIT has five counselors who are here to help meet your student’s social, emotional and academic needs. Each one is assigned to certain programs at each campus – and they are happy to talk with parents any time you have a concern or just need a little guidance. To find your student’s counselor, visit the EVIT Counseling page on our website: https://evit.com/high_school_career_training/evit_counseling_office

EVIT Governing Board

Like all public school districts in Arizona, the EVIT Career Technical Education District has an elected Governing Board. EVIT’s board meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the board room in Building 3 at the Dr. A. Keith Crandell (Main) Campus, 1601 W. Main St., Mesa. Notices of public meetings are posted on the EVIT website calendar -- http://evit.com/calendar -- and a link to meeting agendas can be found at https://evit.com/about/governing_board.

EVIT board members each represent one of nine districts within the EVIT CTED. To find your representative and their contact information, visit https://evit.com/about/governing_board. A link to EVIT policies can also be found on that page.

Adult Education @ EVIT

EVIT offers a dozen career training programs for adults, from Aesthetics to Welding and much more. An adult program may be a great option for high school seniors who are completing another EVIT program and want to add on to their skills. For example, your student might complete the high school Construction Technologies program in the spring, graduate and then come back the next year as an adult student in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) program. Learn more about EVIT’s Adult Ed programs at https://evit.com/adult_career_training_programs.

30 years of changing lives

We have many alumni who have found success after starting their career path at EVIT. Throughout this anniversary year, we will be profiling them in the media, on social media and our website. Their success shows what’s possible when students have a quality career and technical education. For instance, EVIT Aviation alum Michael Charlton went on at age 19 to earn over $100,000 as one of the youngest certified radar controllers to ever work at the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center. Read Michael’s inspiring story: https://evit.com/news/what_s_new/aviation_program_gives_e_v_i_t_alum_wings_to_soar. And, Breanna Bright is now a junior designer with Wiseman and Gale Interiors, a high-end residential design firm in Scottsdale, after completing EVIT’s Interior Design program. Read how Breanna landed her dream job: https://evit.com/news/what_s_new/evit_training_fuels_interior_design_alums_success

Coming soon: EVIT online bookstore!
We have received many questions and requests from students and parents who would like to purchase shirts and other apparel and items that have the EVIT logo. We are currently working with a vendor to set up a store online where you can buy EVIT spirit items. We will be sure to update you when it’s up and running.

Keeping up with EVIT

Facebook – facebook.com/evitnews
Instagram – instagram.com/evitnews
Twitter – twitter.com/evitnews
YouTube – youtube.com/evitnews

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/evitnews

Be sure to “like” our pages and follow us for the latest news!

EVIT changes lives by loving our students and serving our community.