Teaching Jobs in Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson: loan, house, job openings)

[bears0909]

Hi All,

I have been a PE teacher for 3 years and Phoenix was one of the areas I was looking at relocating to.

I have noticed in my 3 years applying for teaching jobs across the country that Arizona never seems to have any openings? I usually use School Spring and sometimes teachers-teachers. Does Arizona really have no openings considering how big Phoenix is? Or do the schools there not post the job openings and you have to apply to each one separately? I noticed School Spring pretty much takes jobs from the Department of Education site for each state, so pretty much all teaching jobs are listed on there which is more convenient.

Anyways, I am just looking for the outlook on jobs for the 2010-2011 year especially for Physical Education before I pay for the AZ teaching certificate.

Thanks!!

[observer53]

Schools are pretty strapped right now, and the funding here is never good to start with. I'm not surprised that you don't see many, or any, openings. Many, like you, want to come here, and the education colleges are putting out new teachers all the time.

I know nothing about how or where the districts here post openings, since there are so many districts in Phoenix, I would imagine that looking and applying individually would be a lot of work.

[krock1dk]

Your observations of not having many school positions in AZ right now is accurate. The state is going thru a tremendous budget deficit nightmare that is closing schools and getting rid of numerous teachers. Dont know about many other states, but education is always the first thing cut in AZ when financial times get tough. BTW, even in 'good' times, teachers in AZ are among the lowest paid in the country. You also may not know this but AZ ranks dead last--50th--in education in SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates and spending per pupil. Education is just not a priority in AZ. Your best bet may be to look at other states. Highly suggested!

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

Your observations of not having many school positions in AZ right now is accurate. The state is going thru a tremendous budget deficit nightmare that is closing schools and getting rid of numerous teachers. Dont know about many other states, but education is always the first thing cut in AZ when financial times get tough. BTW, even in 'good' times, teachers in AZ are among the lowest paid in the country. You also may not know this but AZ ranks dead last--50th--in education in SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates and spending per pupil. Education is just not a priority in AZ. Your best bet may be to look at other states. Highly suggested!

Arizona is not dead last in SAT scores...This was a report from August 2009. It states "Arizona's scores remained above the national average, for one thing. And the College Board, which develops and publishes the three-part test, said average scores nationwide, and in Arizona, are falling because a more diverse group of students is taking the test."

SAT scores in Arizona on decline

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by Grannysroost

Arizona is not dead last in SAT scores...This was a report from August 2009. It states "Arizona's scores remained above the national average, for one thing. And the College Board, which develops and publishes the three-part test, said average scores nationwide, and in Arizona, are falling because a more diverse group of students is taking the test."

SAT scores in Arizona on decline

excuses. excuses. excuses.

[adolpho]

I just got my Fingerprint Card in the mail. That took 6 weeks and 75 USD. I'm not optimistic about school jobs, and I am holding off on my TL, until I am offered employment.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

excuses. excuses. excuses.

So, give us the link to the study you are talking about.

[bluebelt1234]

Originally Posted by bears0909

Hi All,

I have been a PE teacher for 3 years and Phoenix was one of the areas I was looking at relocating to.

I have noticed in my 3 years applying for teaching jobs across the country that Arizona never seems to have any openings? I usually use School Spring and sometimes teachers-teachers. Does Arizona really have no openings considering how big Phoenix is? Or do the schools there not post the job openings and you have to apply to each one separately? I noticed School Spring pretty much takes jobs from the Department of Education site for each state, so pretty much all teaching jobs are listed on there which is more convenient.

Anyways, I am just looking for the outlook on jobs for the 2010-2011 year especially for Physical Education before I pay for the AZ teaching certificate.

Thanks!!

I a former Arizona teacher. I was axed during the last round of budget cuts. I never found another job. My certification area is elementary. There are few elementary jobs and even fewer PE jobs. Some schools did eliminate PE, art, and music during the last round of budget cuts. I personally know of an art teacher who was laid off and never found work.

If you want a job in AZ, I would consider the reservations, towns within a 10 mile radius of the Mexican border, and the ghettos of Phoenix and Tucson. Some charter schools do have a few openings, but even the charter schools will have 50-100 applicants for one job. PE jobs probably have more than 50-100 applicants.

[bluebelt1234]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

Your observations of not having many school positions in AZ right now is accurate. The state is going thru a tremendous budget deficit nightmare that is closing schools and getting rid of numerous teachers. Dont know about many other states, but education is always the first thing cut in AZ when financial times get tough. BTW, even in 'good' times, teachers in AZ are among the lowest paid in the country. You also may not know this but AZ ranks dead last--50th--in education in SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates and spending per pupil. Education is just not a priority in AZ. Your best bet may be to look at other states. Highly suggested!

Actually, as of 2008, Arizona was ranked 49th in education spending. Mississippi was last. It was in a report that my school gave us at the beginning of the school year last year.

Education is not typically a priority in AZ. There are many parents who just didn't seem to care about anything going on in the schools. I did have some parents who were really good though. Even though pay was low here, I did seem to be able to make ends meet. I was never able to buy a house or anything like that. I did pay off my car loan.

[adolpho]

but, if you meet the ASU and U of A Grads, who also grew up here; they are clones of their East Coast counterparts. They don't speak like they attended ghetto schools at all.