Teacher Recruitment

According to recent studies, more than 2 million teachers will be needed nationwide within the next decade in public elementary and secondary schools, particularly in urban and rural areas. This trend is in large part due to a growing student population, and a high percentage of veteran teachers retiring and new teachers changing professions. There is a particularly high demand for ethnically diverse teachers and teachers in subject areas such as special education, math, science, and bilingual education or English as a Second Language.

Leaders in the areas of public policy, government, the business community, early childhood, K-12 education and post-secondary education are well aware of the challenges facing Arizona and the nation. The governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, is addressing teacher quality, recruitment and retention in many ways. In addition, many business groups, community groups and education groups are collaborating to address the many issues facing education in
Arizona, all emphasizing quality teaching and learning.

Governor Napolitano’s Efforts

Committee for Teacher Quality and Support

The governor’s Committee for Teacher Quality and Support, established in May 2005, consists of teachers, business community members, and representatives from teaching colleges. Among its tasks, the committee will develop a teacher training delivery system to insure uniform access to high quality professional development; identify opportunities and obstacles in recruiting good students to be teachers; conduct a survey of Arizona’s teachers to find common working condition impediments; and identify pay gaps across counties and districts that differently reward the same levels of experience.

Division for School Readiness (DSR)

The Division for School Readiness:

• works to develop a coordinated, efficient and cost effective delivery system for early childhood education to ensure that all children in Arizona start 1st grade safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.
• advises and makes recommendations to the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and to the Legislature on the most effective policy direction and methods to improve the coordination, quality and delivery of early care and educational services.

Efforts include funding Regional Partnerships through the Arizona Early Education Funds Board that provide the infrastructure necessary to distribute the funds raised by Proposition 203. Programs funded by the Early Education Funds Board include professional development and support for early education teachers. The CHASE Early Education Emergent Leader Program is also part of the strategy of Governor Napolitano’s plan to improve the education and retention of early education professionals.

Living in Arizona

Arizona is a great place to live and teach. The Grand Canyon State has stunning landscapes, sunsets, mountain ranges, and cactus forests. The people are a vibrant blend of cultures and traditions and enjoy activities from boating, hiking and golf to cultural, artistic and community events. Arizona is home of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and offers residents a pleasing choice of rural, urban and suburban living. It's all of these things that make Arizona a truly unforgettable place to live.

Visit these sites for more information about living in Arizona:

Arizona Department of Commerce
Arizona at Your Service
Arizona Community Pages

Working in Arizona

Although the job market for educators is favorable, finding a job can still be a daunting task. Knowing where to look is often the biggest challenge. Prospective educators can find jobs by perusing local newspaper listings, department of education and school district websites, and attending job fairs. For job fairs, teachers should bring resumes, and be prepared to fill out applications and interview with recruiters on site. NCTE/TEPC’s Education Resources page links job seekers to a multitude of employment sites.

Salaries

Teaching has always been rewarding. With scholarships for teacher education students, competitive starting salaries and benefits, and tax breaks, teachers can make a good living. Further, teachers in high need specialty areas (such as special education) often earn higher salaries. Refer to the NCTE/TEPC Education Resources page for links to a variety of websites comparing teaching salaries around the country.

Financial Aid

Special programs and incentives are in place to help people become, and remain, teachers. Find out what those programs are and how to become a fully supported teacher by ordering "Funding Education Beyond High School" on the website by contacting the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243.

The federal government administers many different student aid programs to help students finance a college education. Pell grants, Stafford Loans and PLUS loans are available to students who qualify, in addition to the Federal Work-Study Programs. Find links to financial aid opportunities on the NCTE/TEPC Education Resources page.

Community Service is another avenue for students to receive assistance financing education. Contact the Corporation for National and Community Service or by calling 202-606-5000.

Each Arizona college and university also has a financial aide office that can provide students with advise regarding grant and loan procedures.