Maricopa Community Colleges are participating in National Teacher Appreciation Week, highlighting the essential role teachers play in communities. As a significant community college system, Maricopa employs over 5,000 faculty members.
Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges, stated: “Educators at all levels have the power to profoundly influence the trajectories of their students’ lives.” He emphasized that teachers serve as role models and mentors in Arizona classrooms.
Arizona faces a persistent teacher shortage with 25.4% of vacancies unfilled and many filled by non-certified teachers. Special education positions are notably difficult to fill.
To address this issue, Maricopa Community Colleges offer several education-focused degree programs. These include an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education allowing transfer of 90 credits for a bachelor’s degree and an Associate of Arts or Science with an Emphasis in Secondary Education for grades 6-12 teaching in various subjects.
The colleges also provide two bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education – Dual Language and Elementary Education and Special Education. Over 4,100 students are pursuing these degrees, with more than 300 graduating this spring to join Arizona’s K-12 workforce.
For career changers holding any bachelor’s degree, Maricopa offers programs through the Arizona Teacher’s Academy to become certified K-12 teachers within two years. The Post Baccalaureate Program at Rio Salado College covers elementary to special education coursework, while Scottsdale Community College’s STEP Program offers pathways to K-8 certification.
Following HB2765’s passage, students will soon access expanded opportunities through the Academy for becoming certified educators.
