Rachel Willis has spent 22 years shaping the futures of her students at Wickenburg High School. Willis is the kind of educator who would give her students the world, and that is exactly what she did with support from the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program.

Willis was a recipient of a $2,500 Wishes for Teachers grant last fall, which enabled her to purchase virtual reality (VR) headsets for her students. The technology transformed her classroom into a hub of immersive learning and career exploration. Students have learned everything from golf swing techniques in hopes of earning an athletic scholarship, to how to stitch a patient as a doctor, and have even adventured all the way across the globe.

"Our headsets have been amazing," Willis said. "They have taken us from this small town [in Wickenburg] to worldly treasures like the Louvre."

Willis instructs Jobs for Arizona Graduates (JAG). As part of the national Jobs for America's Graduates initiative, JAG aims to ensure that students graduate and are also prepared for whatever path they choose afterward.

In a small town of 7,000 residents, Willis said her students have a variety of post high school aspirations.

"I probably have a fourth of my kids who think they want to go to universities and a fourth who want to go to community college. Last year, a fourth went into the military and the other fourth goes straight into the workforce," Willis said.

The technology from the Wishes for Teachers funding has been used for career exploration, with students trying out simulations in fields like heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and welding.

One of Willis' students entered the year without a post high school plan. When Willis invited an HVAC professional to her classroom, this student's life path changed. This memory is a proud one for Willis because it shows how impactful her class can be.

"We had a lady present on opportunities in HVAC and then she showed on the VR headsets some of the simulations for that career," Willis said. "The next day, he decided that's what he wanted to do. He applied for an apprenticeship program, and he graduated in May —that's what he's doing right now."

Willis has spent the last two decades serving as a school counselor at her alma mater. When graduation rates were dropping at Wickenburg High School, Willis stepped back into the classroom — for a role she characterizes as a merger between counseling and career and technical education (CTE) programs.

One of the standout aspects of JAG is its commitment to staying involved with students for a full year after they graduate. Willis follows up with her graduates monthly, either visiting or calling to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed.

This approach, combined with hands-on projects and real-world skills development, helps students navigate the often-daunting transition from high school to adult life.

"We can expose them to businesses and industries that are in our rural area, but there are so many options they would not have the chance to experience without something like a VR headset," Willis explained.

Willis teaches her students how to build resumes while mixing in other student requests, including sewing, tying a tie and even dinner table manners.

Willis realized that her students needed more than just guidance; they needed tools to help them overcome challenges, particularly those related to public speaking and anxiety. That is when VR technology became a game-changer.

"They can have a virtual audience to start with," Willis said. "It gives them real feedback. It gives them feedback on their eye contact, how loud they were, it can even tell if they are wiggling around too much."

As a fourth-generation teacher, Willis said she already knew how hard the job was. She also faced challenges supplying her classroom because JAG was newly introduced to Wickenburg High School two years ago.

"Being a teacher in a new program when you haven't been teaching in a long time, there is a huge need," Willis said. "I think every teacher fills those needs however they can, so they spend it out of their pocket or ask their neighbors for donations."

Willis emphasizes that in a rural school like Wickenburg High, resources can be scarce, making awards such as those through Wishes for Teachers even more vital.

"Does every teacher have a wish list? For sure. I've never known a teacher who doesn't," Willis said. "I've also written a million grants, so I understand sometimes writing or asking for money, it's really labor intensive. This [Wishes for Teachers] was so easy."

Willis said that the headsets have had a greater impact than she could have ever imagined. Other classrooms will borrow them for curriculum, and Willis said JAG has become one of the favorites amongst students. Willis said earning the money and buying the VR headsets was just the beginning of her relationship with the Fiesta Bowl.

"Never have I been treated like royalty," Willis said. "They made such a big deal about being a teacher. You receive resources for your kids, which feels like such a blessing, and then you go to these events and see all these teachers be acknowledged for all the stuff they're doing, that was so amazing."

Applications for the 2024 Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program are open until Monday, September 30 at 10 p.m. For more information, visit WishesForTeachers.org.