August 9, 2004

During the day, Jamie Marks, 31, teaches elementary school children in Paradise Valley.

A Coolidge Unified School District official said this week it would not have hired former Higley High School teacher Alfonso Padilla had a state database indicated he was under investigation or had been disciplined for alleged inappropriate contact with a student through the use of a computer.

March 7, 2005

East Valley professionals thinking about a career in teaching could find themselves leading a secondary school classroom as early as August through a pilot program the state will launch this summer.

Arizona’s top education official has jumped the first hurdle in pushing through a plan to allow college graduates in other fields to become teachers after about one month of intensive training.

June 1, 2004

A beloved half-day kindergarten teacher from Gilbert's Spectrum Elementary School died on Saturday, according to district officials.

The Scottsdale Unified School District plans to notify 175 teachers next week that their positions are being eliminated, the president of the district's teachers union said Friday.

About this series: The Tribune is following Ben Shafer as he prepares to dive into a new career as a high school music teacher. His first day of school is July 26 in the Chandler Unified School District.

About this series: The Tribune is following Ben Shafer as he prepares to dive into a new career as a high school music teacher. His first day of school is July 27 in the Chandler Unified School District.

Elementary teachers protesting outside a Mesa school district meeting Tuesday night said they could have as many as 40 kids in a class next school year if current state budget proposals go through.

Up to 50 Scottsdale teachers would receive retirement benefits and stay in classrooms under a proposal the Scottsdale Unified School District governing board is set to vote on Tuesday.

The Mesa Unified School District notified 21 teachers Friday they will not have jobs next year because there will be fewer students.

The Mesa Unified School District notified 21 teachers Friday they will not have jobs next year because there will be fewer students.

As classes resume Monday in the Chandler Unified School District, some teachers may feel they've won the lottery -- because they landed jobs. 

Gilbert Unified School District Superintendent Dave Allison identified more than $4 million in budget cuts Tuesday night, continuing the ongoing goal to bring down the district's $27.5 million budget deficit for the upcoming school year.

The Higley Unified School District cut nine additional teachers and two nurses Thursday, bringing the total to 48 cuts of teachers and nurses.

The state’s top education official wants Arizona businesses to let staffers take time off to teach.

As a retired music and drama teacher, Karen Rolston is using the skills she’s acquired during her close to 30-year career to volunteer full time. “There’s so many organizations that don’t have funding,” the 61-year-old from Mesa said.

The Tempe Elementary School District has found a way to balance its budget, in the face of rising costs and declining enrollment, and still give teachers raises this year.

Denise Birdwell: We at the Higley Unified School District would like to provide our community with updated information regarding our budget and staffing for the upcoming school year. We approached the budget savings using two strategies: budget reduction and staffing reorganization. We were pleased with the input we received from our stakeholders through surveys, parent forums, individual school site meetings, the teacher association, and administrative meetings. Difficult decisions were made to keep our district financially stable.