2011 ATHENA Young Professional Recipient: Andrea Stouder Pursley, Arizona State University

Andrea Stouder Pursley is a former classroom teacher who has taken on the biggest assignment of her life.

As head of ASU’s Sanford Education Project, Pursley oversees a unique educational initiative in collaboration with Teach For America that will recruit, train, support and engage better teachers to build a better educational system for the future.

“All the research shows the number one indicator of academic attainment for students is who their teacher is,” Pursley says. “I absolutely believe in the power of teachers.”

Teaching in South Phoenix classrooms, Pursley gained firsthand experience in the educational inequities facing school children from low-income areas. Now she not only works to ensure that all children are given equal opportunities to succeed, but that the next generation of teachers have the resources and encouragement they need to do the challenging and life-altering job of educating our kids.

“I love it, that’s what wakes me up very early in the morning,” she admits. “I am really excited about the opportunity to do the things I am most passionate about – to mentor people who are going to be teachers and educational leaders at every level who will help us solve these problems.”

Attend the 24th Annual ATHENA Awards luncheon on Tuesday, October 25 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. To register visit www.phoenixchamber.com/athena2011, or call 602.495.2182 if you have questions.