Arizona schools are still struggling with a major teacher shortage as thousands of educators leave the profession each year and districts work to keep classrooms staffed.
According to data from the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association, more than 8,600 teachers — about 14% of the state’s teaching workforce — leave the profession annually. The ongoing turnover has left many schools scrambling to fill positions and relying on temporary staffing solutions.
Across Arizona, more than 4,200 teaching jobs are currently being filled by long-term substitutes or educators who do not hold standard teaching certification. Another 1,400 positions remain vacant, and schools face more than 1,000 unexpected teacher departures during the school year.
In some years, the shortage has become so severe that more than half of all filled teaching vacancies have been staffed by individuals who do not meet traditional certification requirements.
Burnout and low pay remain key challenges
For many educators, burnout is the biggest reason for leaving the classroom.
Nearly one in four departing teachers cite overwhelming workloads, classroom challenges, and limited administrative support as factors in their decision to leave. Many also point to difficulties managing student behavior and a lack of resources to address discipline concerns.
Pay remains another major issue. While teacher salaries in Arizona have risen in recent years, many educators say compensation still does not reflect the demands of the job. Dissatisfaction with pay consistently ranks among the top reasons teachers choose to leave the profession.
The shortage is also putting additional pressure on teachers who remain. To cover staffing gaps, about 24% of Arizona educators work under “sixth-fifth contracts,” which require them to teach an extra class during periods that would normally be used for lesson planning and preparation.
Education experts warn that losing planning time can increase stress, contribute to burnout, and make it even harder for schools to retain experienced teachers.
Some districts are feeling the impact more than others
Although teacher shortages are affecting schools statewide, some districts are experiencing especially high turnover rates. The Phoenix Elementary School District and the Isaac Elementary School District both reported attrition rates of around 20%, meaning roughly one in five teachers left the profession.
Several charter school organizations reported even higher turnover. Edkey Inc., Vista College Prep, Arizona Autism Charter Schools, and Archway Classical Academy all recorded attrition rates exceeding 25%. High turnover can create instability in schools, disrupt student learning, increase hiring costs, and place added strain on remaining staff.
Schools are looking for solutions
State education leaders and local districts have launched several initiatives aimed at recruiting and retaining more teachers.
The Arizona Department of Education has expanded support programs for new educators, recognizing that teachers are often most likely to leave during their first few years in the classroom.
Many districts have also invested in “grow-your-own” teacher programs, which help community members transition into teaching careers. These programs typically recruit individuals who already hold bachelor’s degrees, provide mentorship and classroom experience, and support participants as they earn their teaching certification while working in schools.
In return, participants usually agree to teach in the district for a set number of years. Supporters say these programs help build a stronger local pipeline of educators and increase the likelihood that teachers will stay in the communities where they work.
Despite these efforts, education leaders acknowledge that Arizona’s teacher shortage will not be solved overnight. Many educators argue that improving working conditions, protecting planning time, and offering more competitive salaries will be critical if schools hope to keep qualified teachers in Arizona classrooms for the long term.
Matt Loeschman has had two separate stints at Independent Newsmedia. He began as a reporter covering Peoria and later Surprise from 2000-2009. In 2017, he returned to Arizona and INI as the news editor of the Daily News-Sun (now the Phoenix Independent). He previously covered the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League for more than a decade.
Community: During high school football season since 2017, he contributes live postgame radio reports to the AzPreps 365 Friday Night Football Wrapup Show. He supports organizations such as Phoenix Children’s, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley and the American Cancer Society.
Education: The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Journalism-News and Public Affairs.
Random Fact: He can sing and he has been fortunate to meet many famous people during his journalism career including First Lady Hillary Clinton, King of Country Music George Strait and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey. Attended all 4 home games of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Watching and playing a wide variety of sports, including golf, tennis, pickleball and softball. Playing PlayStation 5, working out, shopping and reading.
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