 Arizona is Facing a Teacher Shortage
Over 700 teacher openings in Arizona schools were reported this past fall.
The strategies for recruitment and retention are well documented. Recruit more, pay more, support more. But we don't have more. How do we attract high quality educators to our schools that are ok with less?
According to ADE Educator Recruitment and Retention Task Force Report
Image from The Millennial Solution
The Millennials are a huge potential talent pool of which can solve our teacher shortage issue. However we must know how to attract them. Here are some points to think about when planning how to attract these new, energetic teachers.
Millennials want a job where they can learn and grow with plenty of career development. Multiple studies show that Millennials are continual learners and care about not only how they can do their job better, but what an employer can offer them to become better at their job, for their current work and further on into their career.
A 2011 survey by Opinium Research looked at Millennials’ priorities when considering a job. Their personal learning and development was named the top priority, followed by flexible working hours in pursuit of work/life balance, followed then by cash bonuses.
The more personalized your professional development program is, the more interested Millennials will be in your school system. Show prospective candidates how they will be individually supported and how you care about their success.
Strategically Targeting Top Talent
Image from Cesar Chavez Community School, Phoenix
Robust Human Capital Management Systems provide a strategic plan for attracting, placing, retaining, sustaining and developing top-tier educators. By focusing on key strategies, a school district will create a robust system that will place talent into schools most in need.
School systems interested in becoming more strategic about developing a HCMS that builds a top-notch workforce should consider following the following proven strategies.
Targeted Educator Support
Image from Dunbar Elementary School, Phoenix
Educator Goal Plans help teachers, evaluators, and professional developers all FOCUS on what the individual needs to become more effective. We know that whole-staff professional development has limits with respect to increasing staff effectiveness. Teachers, like their students, have a variety of needs at multiple levels. Those differences must be respected and addressed. The Educator Goal Plan in an important strategy in making that happen.
Educator Goal Plans should be created in collaboration with the educator using data from the educator's observation and student assessments.
Upcoming Opportunities To Support The Best And Brightest
April 21-22: Response to Intervention in Mathematics: AZCCRS Mathematics Phase 3
Participants will learn about what Response to Intervention (RtI) is and is not. Participants will learn successful components of mathematics focused Response to Intervention models. Topics include
strategies to assist intervention and enrichment for students based on data will be discussed. Time will
be provided to begin planning a Mathematics RtI model specific to the participant’s site’s needs.
June 17: 3rd-5th Grade Content-Division: AZCCRS Mathematics Phase 2
Participants will construct a deeper understanding of multiplication and division with a special emphasis on strategies through the learning progressions. Topics will include representing multiplication and division, developing flexible number sense, defining multiplication in four ways, and defining division in four ways; making explicit connections among domains mathematical practices, and mathematical tasks. Please note that this is a condensed two-day workshop
June 19: 3rd-5th Grade Content in Fractions: AZCCRS Mathematics Phase 2
Participants will construct a deeper understanding of fractions with a special emphasis on learning progressions and developing flexible fraction sense. Topics will include the following: representing, comparing, and defining fractions; operating with fractions; connections among domains; mathematical practices; and mathematical tasks. Please note that this is a condensed two-day workshop.
Looking To Bring Art Back To Your School?
The Phoenix Symphony is offering an educational program which integrates science, technology, engineering, ART and math (STEAM). The program, titled Mind Over Music, pairs symphony musicians with Phoenix area teachers to collaboratively develop and deliver integrated STEAM units to students. Past collaborations have been shown to increase both math and science scores while providing critical arts.
Interested schools must meet the following criteria:
- Interest in improving achievement in STEM subjects
- High poverty population
- Located in or near Central Phoenix
- No current music or band program
- Willing to make a 3-year commitment
Interested school leaders should contact candace.diehl@mcesa.maricopa.gov for more information.
| 
