Maricopa Community Colleges are proud to join educational institutions nationwide in celebrating National Teacher Appreciation Week. The week honors the proud impact teachers have on their students and local communities. As the largest community college system in the nation, Maricopa Community Colleges employs more than 5,000 residential and adjunct faculty members who are experts in their fields.
Throughout the U.S., educators—from preschool teachers to college professors—play a pivotal role in shaping the minds and lives of their students. Many enter the profession influenced by life-changing experiences with an impactful teacher who helped them discover their potential, leaving a lasting impression.
“Educators at all levels have the power to profoundly influence the trajectories of their students' lives,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “In classrooms across Arizona, teachers do more than just instruct, they serve as role models and mentors, inspiring students to pursue their dreams.”
Creating Solutions for Arizona’s Classrooms
Arizona continues to face a K-12 teacher shortage for the ninth consecutive year, as 25.4% of teacher vacancies remain unfilled, and 52.2% are filled by teachers who don’t meet the state’s standard certification requirements. Arizona K-12 schools have also struggled to hire and retain teachers in hard-to-fill special education positions. During the 2020-21 academic year, nearly 48% of the state’s school districts reported a special education teaching vacancy that was difficult or impossible to fill.
- To mitigate the shortage of Arizona edu Associate of Arts in Elementary Education students can transfer 90 credits to earn an education-focused bachelor’s degree through one of Maricopa Community Colleges’ two programs.
- The Associate of Arts, with an Emphasis in Secondary Education, provides the first two years of a four-year degree program for teaching 6th-12th grades in subjects such as Earth and Space Science, English, History, Social Studies, and Math.
- An Associate of Science with an Emphasis in Secondary Education provides the first two years of a four-year degree program for teaching 6th-12th grade students in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
- Associate in Applied Science in Instructional Assistance prepares students for employment as an assistant in a K-12 classroom.
Two bachelor's degrees in Early Childhood Education – Dual Language and Elementary Education and Special Education. cators, Maricopa Community Colleges offers the following degree programs, preparing students to support critical workforce needs:
Today, more than 4,100 students are pursuing education-focused bachelor’s degrees across the system. This spring, more than 300 students will receive awards through one of Maricopa Community Colleges’ education-focused associate and bachelor’s degree programs. These new teachers will join Arizona’s K-12 workforce, ready to inspire, support, and facilitate learning for students across the state.
Opportunities for Career Changers
Recognizing that some professionals may want to change careers, Maricopa Community Colleges offers two programs through the Arizona Teacher’s Academy (the Academy), specifically designed for career changers who hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and wish to become certified K-12 teachers in two years or less. Interested students seeking to make a meaningful impact in public education can enroll in one of the two available programs.
- The Post Baccalaureate Program at Rio Salado College allows students to complete coursework in elementary education, secondary education, or special education.
- The STEP Program at Scottsdale Community College offers two pathways to K-8 certification: Traditional Teaching in Training or Teacher in Residence.
Following the recent passage of HB2765, students enrolled in one of Maricopa’s education-focused bachelor’s degree programs will soon be able to take advantage of expanded opportunities through the Academy.
To learn more about pathways to becoming a teacher in Arizona, click here.