Yuma County retains teachers despite national teacher shortage

Local schools maintain staffing needs - 13 On Your Side's Arlette Yousif reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA/KECY) - While the rest of the country is experiencing a teacher shortage, school districts in Yuma County tell us they are doing a good job holding on to our educators throughout the pandemic.

Crane Elementary School District and Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) are among the districts that say they have been maintaining their staffing needs.

But one local mom says she still believes class sizes could be smaller, especially for children with special needs.

"I know it’s hard right now, like putting kids in like the classes they need. With my kid, he has ADHD and it’s hard, they have to put them in groups to try and figure out where they’re gonna put them and it’s all on one teacher or maybe like two teachers. We need more teachers," says local parent Kassandra Delgado.

On average, schools in the Yuma area have 25 to 40 students in traditional core classes, while specialized classes are said to have as few as ten to 20 students per class.

Jay Irwin, a Yuma local who has family in the education field says teachers deserve more.

"We’re lucky we’re doing well with right now. I don’t believe we value teachers enough. I don’t think they get paid enough. So, if we’re doing well, good luck for us. I hope it stays that way," explains Yuma local Jay Irwin.

The employment trend is looking that way.

"Yuma Union High School District, since 2018, has really seen a decrease in the number of open teaching positions, which is definitely a good thing," says Yuma Union High School District Chief Communications Officer Eric Patten.

YUHSD attributes its success to state funding and the district's compensation committee improving teacher salaries over the last four years.

"As of this year, beginning the 2122 school year, our teacher retention rate was nearly 70%, which obviously is trending in the right direction, and that was up almost 8% from the previous year," explains Patten.

Governor Doug Ducey's 20x2020 plan included a 20% increase in pay for teachers in Arizona.

YUHSD's compensation committee also increased teacher pay by an additional 13% over the course of the last four years.