Tucson Standard

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation that will give public schools greater options to recruit teachers, principals, and other educators.

Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray (R-21), Senate Bill 1159, will allow those without a bachelor’s degree in education to start training to become teachers while finishing their degree, according to a July 5 press release. It will also allow educators to renew their licenses and get back into the classroom more easily.

“For the past eight years, we have made it a priority to give our kids a high-quality education, and this legislation builds on those actions,” Ducey said in the release. “S.B. 1159 will ensure that more Arizonans have the opportunity to pursue a career in education and help get our kids caught up. Arizona families know the importance of this effort — teachers are critical to our kids’ success today and well into their future.”

Gray said the initiative is necessary, not just in his region of Sun City, but statewide.

“There is an urgent need for teachers in Arizona,” he said. “I am proud to have sponsored this bill to open the door to future educators and prepare them to be in the classroom. Thank you, Governor Ducey, for signing this important piece of legislation.”

Emily Anne Gullickson, president of Great Leaders, Strong Schools, said the state education system is changing with the times.

“Five years ago, Arizona boldly reformed an antiquated teacher certification system to ensure that K-12 schools could recruit and hire excellent talent without unnecessary red tape barriers,” she said in the release. “Senate Bill 1159 will expand on this success and create additional pathways to ensure Arizona schools can find and grow the best talent for our students.”

Moe than 3,000 educators have used the Subject Matter Expert teaching pathway, and several other school districts have launched their own "grow-your-own teacher" programs, according to the release. The bill will authorize school districts and public charter schools to establish their own locally designed school leadership preparation program for principals, assistant principals, supervisors, or other school-level leaders.

"It is difficult to recruit in a border community and for our model which is dual language, it’s even more difficult,” said Luis A. Perales, a school leader at Mexicayotl Academy of Excellence. “We want our teachers to be academically prepared and know the fundamentals of teaching and classroom management. But we teach with very specific techniques and classroom management styles that are beyond fundamentals.

“Having more certification pathways will help us train and develop leadership positions internally and create high quality pathways for former students and community members who want to enter the classroom,” Perales said.

“As a principal and parent, I am incredibly excited about the passing of SB 1159,” said Tonya Strozier, principal of Holladay Fine Arts Magnet Elementary School in the Tucson Unified School District. “A great opportunity is being forged and options are being provided. This bill will provide options that can and should diversify the teacher and school leader talent pipeline. The times we currently live in demand innovation, SB 1159 is sure to do just that. What an incredible win for students that have traditionally been on the perimeter. Thank you to all who played a part in championing this bill.”