More than 1,000 have quit since July – 4,000 vacancies filled temporarily
Contributed Article/Courtesy ADE
PHOENIX – State schools superintendent Tom Horne says a new Arizona Department of Education survey of public schools shows the teacher shortage remains in a catastrophic state. More than 1,000 Arizona teachers have quit the profession since July of this year. In excess of 4,000 teaching positions are vacant and being covered by long-term substitutes or other part-time methods, with almost 1,400 completely unfilled.
Horne said, “This is an intolerable situation and must be addressed immediately. Teachers have been underpaid for years, and they have also been discouraged by a lack of administrative support for classroom discipline. I have consistently advocated higher teacher pay, and when I give my annual state of education speech to the legislature, I urge the passage of a bill that would require school leaders to support classroom teachers in discipline matters. I am hopeful that these will be addressed this year as the deadline approaches for the reauthorization of Proposition 123, that I hope will include money to raise teacher salaries using state land trust funds without a tax increase.”
The survey was conducted in late August to all 629 Arizona districts and charters, with 523 (83%) of those in the state responding. The survey reports that 763 career teachers resigned after July 1 of this year or didn’t report to work, and 292 teachers – for a total of 1,055 – have resigned since the start of the current school year.
It also reveals that just over 4,200 teaching positions remain vacant, with about 30 percent covered by long-term substitutes, nearly 24 percent by existing teachers working through preparation or planning time to cover a vacant position, and almost 23 percent by agency temporary personnel.
Horne concluded, “This survey is disheartening because the solutions are obvious. Just about any classroom teacher can tell you what is needed to thrive as educators and lead students to academic excellence. Better pay and robust support from administrators on discipline are vital.”
