by PRP Group, on 11/13/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Stacey Dillon, PRP Group
Senior Public Relations Strategist
(480) 225-4809 cell
Phoenix Union High School District Partners with iteach® to Attract Qualified Teachers
Nationally renowned online alternative teaching certification program gives professionals with bachelor’s degrees a simpler, affordable route to the noble profession.
(Phoenix, Ariz.) October 23, 2023 - The Phoenix Union High School District (PXU), one of the most progressive portfolio districts in the country with 24 schools, over 27,000 students, and nearly 4,000 employees, and iteach®, the nation’s leading quality, competency-based alternative teacher preparation and certification program, has entered into an memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help expand their pool of qualified teachers in classrooms.
“With 24 high schools, we can never have enough qualified, talented and dedicated teachers to prepare every student for success in college, career, and life,” says Deana Williams, the Talent Director at PXU. “Our partnership with iteach expands our pool to find quality teachers that fit our diverse culture.” PXU’s Talent Division is committed to supporting the district's mission of “Preparing Every Student for Success in College, Career, and Life” by providing the highest caliber staff available to serve our students and community as well as providing ongoing talent support to our current employees. Currently, the district has approximately 150 teacher vacancies.
“Phoenix Union High School District’s culture and diversity aligns with iteach’s foundational principles of bringing quality teachers to the classroom, while providing a flexible and affordable program that contains the same rigor as any college or university EPP,” says Dr. Kimberly Thaggard, Western Director of iteach. “As the only Counsel for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited online teaching certification program and rigorous educator preparation, paired with PXU’s continual support, the district will continue to be one of the best places to work. It is gratifying to not only enrich the lives of students, but also see newly licensed teachers thrive in this noble profession.”
The partnership will give PXU full control of the teacher candidate recruitment process while iteach will provide test preparation and assume creation and assessment of all coursework and educator platforms, maintenance, and support. “As our nation continues to address teacher shortages, including Arizona, iteach provides an effective solution to provide students with highly effective teachers already familiar to the students and schools without sacrificing the cost and resources it takes to establish and maintain a district-wide educator prep program,” said Andrew Rozell, MBA, president of iteach. Since its 2009 CAEP accreditation, iteach is supported by evidence-based measures of equity and excellence in both instruction and curriculum. “One of the core strengths of the iteach curriculum is that it is intentional. The content, voice, and design make it clear that it was developed by experienced, purposeful educators with high expectations and with great respect for teaching and learning,” added Rozell. iteach is also a one-stop-shop for candidates, providing all the courses needed to earn a Standard License in Arizona amongst 10 other states and counting.
"Phoenix Union High School District is excited to partner with iteach to recruit and retain exceptional personnel. iteach will help us achieve that goal," added Mrs. Williams. “We currently have paraprofessionals and interested teacher candidates with bachelor’s degree and field experience that have expressed interest in pursuing iteach.”
iteach was approved by the Arizona Department of Education in 2022 and supports the complete lifecycle of the educator journey from test preparation, initial certification and licensure, to coaching, professional development, additional endorsements, and career advancement.
EDITOR’S NOTE: To schedule an interview or for more information, please contact Stacey Dillon, PRP Group, at Stacey@PRP.Group or (480) 225-4809.
About iteach®: iteach, a K12 Coalition Company, is a quality, competency-based alternative teacher preparation and certification program that combines the convenience of online learning with a full year of face-to-face supervision during a teaching residency. The organization was founded in 2003 to help talented people become educators while avoiding the high costs and time commitments of some traditional educator preparation programs. To date, the organization is the only non-college Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) certified program in the United States and has helped over 20,000 teachers become certified. The iteach model has been so successful at preparing high-quality educators on a large scale that the program now offers state-approved certification programs in 11 states and counting. Learn more at iteach.net.
About Phoenix Union Unified School District: Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) is one of the largest and most progressive high school districts in the United States. With 24 schools, tens of thousands of students, and over 3,500 employees, PXU covers 220-square miles of Arizona's capital city. If the K-8 students in its 13 elementary partner school districts were included, it would be among the 25 largest unified school districts in the country. PXU is a portfolio district with eleven comprehensive high schools, six small specialty schools, three micro schools, three support schools, and a digital academy. PXU was among Forbes Best Employers For Veterans. Learn more at pxu.org.