Desert Mirage Shines in SchoolsNEXT Competition with Regional Victory

Desert Mirage Elementary School in the Pendergast District is proud to announce that a team of its talented students has won the Southwest Regional SchoolsNEXT Competition, hosted by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). Their project, which centered on the theme of “Family,” earned top honors for its innovation, creativity, and student-led collaboration.

The winning team was guided by Dr. John Carlo Tulinao and Mr. Moises Guzman, two dedicated Desert Mirage educators who helped mentor and inspire the students throughout the design process. The project was also made possible through the school's continued partnership with Orcutt | Winslow, whose support has helped provide students with real-world learning opportunities. We are grateful for their commitment to education and student growth.

SchoolsNEXT is a global design competition that invites middle school students to imagine the learning environments of the future. The competition emphasizes next-generation learning concepts and helps students develop essential 21st-century skills, including critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication.

The Desert Mirage team wowed the judges with their passion, preparation, and teamwork. One juror shared, “Most of the time, each student knows one part of the project very well; however, with this group, every student knew all parts of the project and did well in presenting and sharing what they learned.” Another added, “Their teamwork was clear and infectious throughout their presentation.”

“This win is a reflection of the incredible talent, dedication, and heart our scholars and staff bring to everything they do,” said Mr. Williams, Principal of Desert Mirage Elementary School. “We are so proud of our team for representing Desert Mirage and our community with excellence. They’ve proven that when students are empowered to dream big, amazing things happen.”

Following their regional success, the team will now move on to compete in the International SchoolsNEXT Competition, which will be held virtually on May 16. They will represent the Southwest Region as they share their vision for the future of education with a global audience.

For more information about the SchoolsNEXT program, visit https://www.a4le.org/schoolsnext or contact:

Ramiro Alvarez
Public Information Officer
ralvarez@pesd92.org
623-772-2292