Why Arizona Teachers Stay | Tucson News

Tucson News Today | 2 Min Now | The Daily News Now! · Jul 15, 2026 · 2m

Arizona’s new educator retention survey flips the script—asking why teachers stay instead of why they leave. Safety and positive school climate top the list, aligning with Superintendent Tom Horne’s push to boost school security, which has nearly quadrupled police presence. Teachers overwhelmingly value student relationships and their impact, while leadership and PD feel less satisfying. Workload, class sizes, and pay remain crushing issues—fewer than half feel their salary is competitive or their load manageable. Some stay only because of retirement, necessity, or lack of alternatives. One…