The Policy Issue Of Eastern Arizona College

The Policy Issue of Eastern Arizona College Author Name Institution Name For several months, educators have been fleeing Arizona in droves resulting in an extreme shortage of experienced and qualified teachers. The officials, on the other hand, claim that the schools, colleges, and universities of the state might have to face serious problems if the exodus continues. Eastern Arizona College is a popular institution in Graham County, Arizona, having its campuses in Greenlee County, Gila County, and Thatcher. Over the last few months, various teachers have left the college because of low pay. In 2015, the Arizona Department of Education warned if teachers would keep leaving, the students would not be able to pass the exams. It called for increased pay for educators across the state (Northouse, 2014). Why are the teachers leaving Eastern Arizona College and other schools and colleges? They state that they are being provided with insufficient classroom resources and low pay, and they feel that the teaching guidelines and testing requirements should be changed as they have no flexibility at all. As a result, the college’s reputation is being damaged day by day. At the moment, the average teacher’s pay in this college is equal to that of a bartender or tool taker. Furthermore, they make 12% less than professionals of other fields that require similar qualifications and experience. On an average, the salaries of teachers have declined by 15 percent, and their starting salary is not more than $12,000 per year. Not only this but also the teachers are often left without pay or are forced to face unnecessary penalties. As a result, they have started leaving Eastern Arizona College and other public and private institutes of Arizona (Yoffie, & Cusumano, 2015). Experts believe that the median salary for K-12 teachers should not be less than $57,000 per year with the top being $80,000. Teachers in urban areas of Arizona had been making more than those in rural areas. However, the cost of living in big cities is higher than villages. To attract more and more teachers, Eastern Arizona College should change its policies and offer them a good salary package according to their educational background and experience. A bachelor’s degree with licensure in Arizona is enough to be an educator, but it is the basic qualification and will earn a teacher around than $15,000 a year. If you are looking for a better salary package, you should hold a Master’s degree. In Eastern Arizona College and other community colleges, teachers with postgraduate degrees are eligible for promotions, and Eastern Arizona College and other schools offer medical benefits too (Ashkanasy, Wilderom, & Peterson, 2016). Still, some teachers are not satisfied with the pay package and want and increment. They are of the view that Eastern Arizona College is one of the best and oldest colleges in the state, and their expectations are always high in terms of salary. It is mandatory for high school teachers to have been certified or majored in the subject they want to teach, and they are paid more than the junior or elementary school teachers. The teachers of Eastern Arizona College should note that their salaries depend on their qualifications and experience. Private schools a...