In the true spirit of public education and unity to solve the teacher shortage crisis that schools throughout the country are experiencing, Northern Arizona University, Tolleson Elementary School District (Tolleson ESD) and Littleton Elementary School District (Littleton ESD) are proud to announce their partnership that will deliver professional career paths and teacher certification. This unique partnership is open to anyone interested in pursuing an NAU degree leading to teacher certification and a rewarding career. Through the Arizona Teachers Academy Scholarship, talented individuals interested in serving Arizona’s students can complete the necessary degree program tuition-free. Learn more online.
“We are committed to expanding the teacher workforce and developing Grow Your Own (GYO) partnerships to increase the pipeline of certified educators committed to education equity. Graduates from this program also will receive additional support and mentoring as an early career teacher,” said Ramona Mellott, dean of NAU’s College of Education.
According to Littleton ESD Superintendent Roger Freeman, the numbers are not in yet regarding how many teacher and staff positions remain unfilled in Arizona schools for the 2022-23 school year, but in the past few years, the percentage of unfilled positions has been 25 percent or more.
“After parents and families, research indicates that the teachers and professionals serving our students are the most important factor leading to student success,” Tolleson ESD Superintendent Lupita Hightower said. “In fact, we describe our teachers and professionals as the magic that leads to student success. Therefore, we embrace this partnership to the fullest and are thrilled to support career paths for our community.”
Knowing flexibility and convenience are key factors professionals seek as they look to complete degree programs, candidates can engage in courses online or in person at their local district schools at convenient times in the afternoon and evening.
Virtual information sessions are available for candidates to learn the details about this innovative path to a rewarding career and ask questions. Interested candidates can learn more about how to register for the virtual information sessions by calling (602) 725-9510 or emailing northvalley@nau.edu.
Once registered, a confirmation email will be delivered to participants containing information to join the meeting online. Registration links also are available on the attached information sheet. The schedule for virtual sessions is:
- 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24
- 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30
- 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8
- 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21
4 thoughts on “Innovative partnership formed to address teacher shortage – NAU”
We absolutely need more qualified, good teachers in our classrooms. A ton of money enters the big funnel in Arizona for schools. But how much of it is for classroom teachers and how much goes into other employee (staff) categories? How much stays in State boards and commissions? How do Catholic and other non governmental schools do without these boards-commissions?
Why cant Arizona pay more for a biology ,chemistry or calculus teaching position? Our state legislature must start to think and act outside the education box. There is enough money coming in; it’s just not reaching the classroom.
I would be interested to know how teacher salaries are determined. Do the teachers’ unions set the salaries such that seniority is rewarded over having critical teaching skills in subjects such as mathematics and the sciences?
Agreed, if people want to attract well-qualified teachers, there’s only one way.
1) Get rid of all school administrators that want to indoctrinate, rather than teach, students.
2) Get rid of all school administrators that don’t add value to student’s education.
3) Push the money-scam CRT agenda out and never let it or anything like it back into the school curriculum.
4) Get rid of the word “EDUCATION EQUITY” with it’s counter-productive, foolish implication of EQUAL OUTCOME. Do this immediately and never let those words back into the discussion about educating students.
5) Return to the original term “EDUCATION EQUALITY” with it’s clear message of equal opportunity, i.e. work hard, get all the help you need, develop skills. That’s a simple approach hated by the Radical Left Money Thieves.
6) Focus schools on real world skills like math, wood shop, mechanics, chemistry, accounting, medical, etc.
7) Keep school administrative staff very, very lean. When I went to school there was one Principal, one Vice-Principal, excellent teachers, excellent maintenance workers and that was it. No swarms of assistants, facilitators, union liaisons, attendance clerks or other non-value-added parasites. Get rid of the parasites.
FACT: public school system administration has been infested by Radical Left Money Thieves.
Yes. I agree with you. We have to jettison the idea of equal outcomes. People are not equal. Some people are better looking than others. Some people are brighter than others. Some people are more physically gifted than others. That is just the way it is. Life is not fair. The “educators” that are trying to promote this drivel are living in a fantasy world and most of them are sucking on the taxpayer teat.
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