Public education stakeholders including principals and teachers from more than 20 Arizona school districts came together to discuss results from Arizona’s first Teacher Working Conditions Survey. Results from the survey were released in July of this year with data collected from 32,000 certified classroom teachers, school counselors, and site administrators.

“This is just the first meeting of many that are necessary to address working conditions in Arizona’s schools. The next step is to understand how working conditions affect student learning conditions,” said Andrew Morrill, Vice President of the Arizona Education Association.

Morrill continued, “Working conditions matter in every business and organization and that is no different for Arizona’s students and educators. In reality we know that teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.”

The majority of Arizona educators (72%) say their school is a good place to work and learn and agree that leadership is critical to retaining quality teachers.

Morrill said, “Effective leadership is more than managing a school, it involves a fully engaged teaching faculty and community. Students, parents, and the community can only become fully engaged when there are clear expectations.”

Survey results indicate that a large majority of respondents (69%) receive insufficient time to plan and collaborate with colleagues. Additionally, more than half (56%) say they cannot focus on teaching their kids without interruptions.

When asked which working condition matters most in promoting student learning, more educators identified empowerment and time than any other factors. The data suggests that teachers want to play a role in classroom and school decisions to ensure they can be effective with their students. According to the data, however, 64% of educators say they are not playing a significant role in the decisions that ultimately impact student learning.

“Decisions about our schools and education must be made by those closest to our students. Teachers are natural problem-solvers and can be trusted to make sound professional decisions,” Rhonda Ball, teacher and president of the Amphitheater Education Association, said.

Morrill said, “The State of Arizona must consider its current investment in public education and deliver on the promise of a quality public education for every Arizona child. This investment must ensure that our most important educational resource, teachers, have the time and resources they need to deliver on our promise.”

With more than 34,000 members, AEA is the largest professional organization in Arizona. Founded in 1892, AEA’s mission is Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education.