The school year is back in session, so 3Ps is back too! Today, hosts Kathleen and Donnie chat with Jason Catanese, a middle school math teacher in the Isaac School District, about how he extended his support of his students far outside his classroom and began a comprehensive college prep program.

Jason, also known as “Mr. Cat,” teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math at Pueblo Del Sol Middle School in the Isaac School District, located in the Maryvale neighborhood of Phoenix. He is also the founder of Camp Catanese to support first-generation college students as they prepare for and transition into college.

A conversation with former students about the ACT led Jason to create Camp Catanese, a summer camp and additional programming to help prepare first-generation college students for their college journey. He shares about how the camp has grown beyond being for former students from his school to 230 students from multiple school districts across the Valley. He also details how this past summer was his first working with a former student who decided to become a teacher.

Along with teaching full-time and leading Camp Catanese, Jason is also on the Arizona K12 Center Board of Directors and the Arizona State Board of Education. He talks with Kathleen and Donnie about how he brings together young adults from across the country to help support the campers of Camp Catanese and share about the variety of career paths students can take.

Learn more about Camp Catanese at campcatanese.com. You can also follow Camp Catanese on Facebook and on Instagram.

Learn more about the Arizona K12 Center at azk12.org.