The education sector has faced intense competition for talented educators and a scarcity of qualified candidates in recent years. Despite these challenges, the Queen Creek Unified School District was one of the only East Valley school districts to successfully fill every certified teacher position for the 2024-2025 school year — a notable achievement compared to other districts facing staffing shortages.

This success highlights our teacher retention rates, which minimized the teacher vacancies we had to fill. According to Arizona Department of Education, 15.75% of teachers in Maricopa County left their Arizona teaching positions, and 5.05% changed school districts. In contrast, only 13.26% of QCUSD teachers left their Arizona teaching positions and 4.92% moved to other school districts.

At QCUSD, our recruitment strategy is centered on offering a comprehensive package to attract and retain top talent. We provide competitive salaries that acknowledge the expertise and hard work of our employees. Alongside this, our benefits package includes health insurance and additional perks designed to support our staff and their families.

We also prioritize professional growth by investing in professional development opportunities that enhance our employees’ skills and career advancement.

A focus on providing an enriching and collaborative work environment also makes our district a desirable place to work. We have established systems to ensure our staff voices are heard annually. These systems allow for targeted actions and discussion with our leaders striving to improve the environment for all faculty and students.

“Working at Queen Creek High School means family, community, integrity and building relationships with our students and staff, as well as leading our students to be the best they can be,” Mauricio Ramirez, who has been with QCUSD for 22 years, said. “I am always supported by administrators and colleagues. The culture at QCHS has always been the best, and I wouldn’t want to teach anywhere other than QCUSD.”

By focusing on targeted recruitment, nurturing a positive work culture and prioritizing the growth and well-being of both students and staff, we sustain high standards and enhance our ability to attract and retain exceptional talent.

Amy Kramb is chief director of human resources for QCUSD.