By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Arizona’s teacher shortage is a two-part problem: existing teachers must be encouraged to stay, and new teachers need better preparation to enter the field and build lasting careers.
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Data shows some programs do it better than others.
ARIZONA TEACHER RETENTION SERIES
- Introduction to Arizona’s teacher retention crisis
- Tucson Now: Arizona’s Teacher Retention Crisis
University of Arizona education student Eve Lescarbeau wants to teach kindergarten. She said working in a classroom during her first year at the university deepened her commitment to the profession.
“Watching the kids interact with the teacher and interact with each other has definitely made me more excited to be a teacher,” Lescarbeau said.
Early classroom experience
The University of Arizona College of Education places student-teachers in classrooms alongside experienced mentors. College of Education Dean Regina Deil-Amen said the approach is designed to build confidence and community before students enter the profession.
“So, they feel comfortable in the setting, they learn to work out some of the challenges, they have a network of support when they enter the profession,” Dean Deil-Amen said.
Certification rates
U.S. Census Bureau data shows only 72% of Arizona students who pursue teaching degrees go on to become certified. At the University of Arizona, that figure is significantly higher.
“You are 94% likely to pass your certification exam and move into the profession at that level,” Dean Deil-Amen said.
Funding pathways
Two programs — Teach Arizona and Arizona Teacher’s Academy — can help fund a teaching degree. Students in both programs commit to teaching at least one year in Arizona. Dean Deil-Amen said that commitment is linked to high levels of job satisfaction.
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“It makes your life matter — it’s a way to give back. It makes you feel like your life has purpose,” Dean Deil-Amen said.
About the series
The teacher retention series is a partnership between Arizona Luminaria education reporter Shannon Conner and 13 News education reporter Isabela Lisco. The project includes 13 newsrooms from around the state, collaborating with the Arizona Local News Foundation.
The collection of stories explores Arizona’s teacher retention crisis through the voices of Tucson-area educators and how they navigate it with classroom preparation, professional development, and supplementing their careers with second jobs. Watch and read the complete series to hear from teachers, administrators, advocates, and experts.
Isabela Lisco is a Report for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
Shannon Conner is the education solutions reporter for Arizona Luminaria, supported by a grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation.
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