The Litchfield Elementary School District #79 has found innovative ways to attract and retain teachers in response to Arizona’s teacher shortage, helping strengthen classrooms and provide stability for students across the West Valley.
LESD79 is not immune to teacher vacancies, especially in harder-to-fill areas such as special education and middle school math and science, said Dr. Jennifer Benjamin, Deputy Superintendent of Academic Success for the district.
“[In the past] we relied heavily on emergency certifications, and because emergency certs aren't permitted in special education, we often had to contract those roles out to staffing agencies,” she said.
This process is common for most school districts but doesn’t address the issue long-term, Benjamin said.
District administrators developed a new program to address this issue; ASPIRE hires individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree outside of education. They are hired by the district on a temporary emergency certificate, which is capped at three years, while working toward highly qualified certification. The program is free and takes two years to complete.
Additionally, LESD79 has become a partner district with the University of Arizona to offer the Pathways to Teaching program. Pathways helps people earn a teaching degree at a fast-tracked pace while receiving financial incentives. Litchfield Elementary School District is one of only 11 districts in the state to offer the partnership.
Individuals who want to become an elementary or middle school teacher with LESD79 join the Pathways program at no cost. Tuition is covered through a combination of forgivable loans and scholarships. College students also receive a monthly $1,000 stipend.
The program begins in spring and continues through summer, fall, and winter, with graduation happening the following spring. Enrollees can become certified teachers in just 17 months. LESD79 is the only Pathways program in the state to offer an ESL endorsement and a literacy endorsement when the degree requirements are met.
Students work alongside LESD79 teachers while they learn. They participate in professional development opportunities, lesson planning, and classroom instruction. All college classes are also virtual, so there is no need for them to travel to the University of Arizona campus for coursework.
LESD79 is an A-rated district, providing more than 100 years of quality public education to the communities of Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye and Litchfield Park. Graduates of the Pathways to Teaching program commit to teaching for three years in the Litchfield district. This commitment provides new teachers with continued support, while offering the district a direct pipeline to certified teachers.
The goal is not only to fill teaching positions, but to do so in a way that supports teacher retention, reduces burnout, and provides students with the stability of having qualified educators in their classrooms. As the West Valley continues to grow, programs like ASPIRE and Pathways to Teaching help LESD79 invest in the educators who will serve local students and communities for years to come.
To learn more about the ASPIRE or Pathways to Teaching Program, visit lesd79.org/aspire