New survey shows why Arizona teachers move on

PHOENIX — The Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning, or “TELL” Arizona survey is providing a hands-on look at life for teachers in the state and why many are leaving.

Other than the glaring issue of pay and school spending, which have Arizona at or near the bottom in the U.S., Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas said class size was a major factor in the departures.

“[The Survey asks] are class sizes reasonable such that teachers have the time available to meet the needs of all students?” Thomas said.

The majority, 61 percent — disagreed or greatly disagreed.

“Class sizes are really problematic [to retention],” he said.

Thomas said because class sizes are so big, educators were bogged down with paperwork, grading papers and tests and trying to craft lesson plans.

This overload had led to instructors spending time, on and off the clock, trying to keep up the pace of educating.

But with students learning at different rates and crowded classrooms, teaching speed can be slowed by students’ need for personal attention.

On the heels of a Wallet Hub survey which found Arizona was the worst state for the profession, Thomas said unless the exodus of educators stops, the worst was yet to come.

“When we have teachers leaving the classroom in record numbers, like this state does, you’ve broken that pipeline of teachers that become very good teachers, and then move into administration and become very good administrators.”

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