Arizona Community Foundation provides solutions to teacher recruitment and retention

The Arizona Community Foundation has released a report providing some innovative solutions to help with teacher recruitment and retention. Arizona has one of the highest rates of teacher vacancies in the nation.

Anna Maria Chávez of Arizona Community Foundation joined Arizona Horizon to discuss the report.

In 2018, the Arizona Community Foundation funded its first research study on teachers in Arizona to compare their salaries to teachers in other states. In the study, they determined salaries being given to teachers in the state of Arizona were low.

This report serves as a toolkit to educate individuals and encourage a redesign of the teaching profession to address teacher retention challenges.

“What we’re hoping again with this research report is to bring these issues to the attention of decision-makers across the state,” said Chávez.

Through past research, the Arizona Community Foundation discovered when classroom sizes are increased and innovative ways aren’t incorporated into the classroom, teachers are going to burn out quickly and leave their profession.

Chávez also expressed that implementing these innovative designs in classrooms can only be done if administrators understand the need to do so.

“It’s listening to our teachers and understanding that we need to listen to those teachers in the classrooms to design the day that’s going to work for them but also the students,” Chávez said.

By working in school districts that are actively supporting new teachers and then bringing those ideas to other districts throughout the state, kids can succeed in the classroom.