Year Founded: 1995
Students Served: 5,800 students at seven campuses and online education programs
Grades Served: 9-12
Location: Tucson, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Somerton, Casa Grande, San Luis
Website: www.ppeptechs.org
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School History
PPEP TEC High School’s history is rich, unique and rooted in serving the underserved. John David Arnold founded PPEP TEC’s parent organization, Portable, Practical Education Preparation (PPEP), Inc., in 1967, so he could teach English, and basic and general practical education to Bracero farm workers in southern Arizona.
Arnold’s office and classroom was a repurposed 1957, 48-passenger Chevy school bus painted teal and named “La Tortuga.” Arnold equipped “La Tortuga” with literacy books, instructional resources and education supplies that aided him as he traveled to various farm labor camps in southern Arizona.
The organization expanded its scope to provide employment training during the 80s and 90s. In 1995, PPEP TEC High School became one of Arizona’s first charter schools and now has campuses in Douglas, Sierra Vista, Casa Grande, Somerton, San Luis and Tucson. Offerings include a night school and two online learning options: Arizona Virtual Academy and Insight Arizona.
Academic Focus
PPEP TEC provides an opportunity to students whose options may be limited. As an alternative high school, PPEP TEC is dedicated to serving a unique student population and maintains a mission and charter that clearly identify its purpose to offer an alternative learning environment. PPEP TEC serves “at risk” students who reflect characteristics such as:
- adjudicated
- history of disruptive behavior
- dropped out of school and returning
- poor academic standing
- primary caregiver or financially responsible for dependents and, therefore, may require a flexible school schedule
- wards of the state
Additional characteristics may include homelessness, special education, learning disability and super-senior status. PPEP TEC helps these students by providing early intervention and support, identifying barriers and challenges and helping students develop success strategies. Services include credit recovery, career and post-secondary planning and arrangement of dual enrollment courses with college credits.
Biggest School Accomplishments
PPEP TEC provides a valuable academic option for at risk students, but the school’s biggest accomplishments lie in the stories of students who struggled, but are now on track for future success. “So many of our students have obstacles standing in the way of their paths, it never ceases to amaze me when our students overcome the obstacles in their lives,” said Will Fisher, lead teacher at PPEP TEC’s Raul H. Castro Learning Center in Douglas. Those students include Emily Tinoco, who overcame her lack of English skills to speak at the Douglas campus’ commencement ceremony and now attends classes at Cochise College. Raymond Rubio is another success story, Fisher said. Rubio had a history of behavior problems, but emerged as a civic-minded leader who gradually demonstrated a desire to be a voice for general betterment in his community. In March 2015, he was invited to attend the Youth Leadership Conference in Yuma.
What makes PPEP Tec unique?
PPEP TEC is an alternative school, but the school looks to provide the same student engagement opportunities as traditional schools. Students have had the opportunity to address the Douglas City Council, attend the Youth Leadership Conference in Yuma, listen to international guest speakers and participate in programs such as CompuGirls, which aims to teach technology skills to teenage girls from underserved areas. The school also hosted a fashion show at its Colin L. Powell Learning Center in Sierra Vista and held its prom on April 15 in Tucson.
