Arizona teachers continue what started in West Virginia

“We’re going to get this 20 percent pay increase, we’re going to get $100 million for support staff and other needs”, he said on KTAR radio.

Tens of thousands of people dressed in red gathered in the streets.

Samuels’ husband will be following along behind her, so that her three young children can attend the march. “And I also run a catering company”, said Hughes.

Widespread protests additionally had been underway in Colorado, the place some faculties have shut down.

In Arizona, the AEU has announced five central demands – among which are 20 percent raises for teachers and certified staff in the next school year, smaller class sizes, and yearly bumps in pay until the state reaches the national average salary, which hovers at almost $59,000 per year for public school teachers.

Courtney, one of several thousand Colorado teachers who converged on the state Capitol on Thursday to demand more funding for schools, said she tutors children during summer vacations to help pay for such expense, but argues that does not make sense in booming Colorado and especially in Douglas County – one of the 10 richest in the United States.

Ducey, a Republican, told the station during a separate interview that he’s “not ignoring anyone” but is focused on meeting with state legislators to push his plan for a 20 percent pay raise by 2020.

“We are all on the same team”, said Peter Smith, a teacher at Basis Flagstaff.

In Arizona, the first-ever statewide strike starts Thursday after educators voted overwhelmingly in favor of the action.

Republicans Sen. Bob Gardner and Rep. Paul Lundeen introduced a bill that would fine or jail teachers and teacher associations for striking.

Arizona teachers protest for higher pay and more funding of schools.

“I’ve never seen this amount of unity”, she said. They are asking, “Why aren’t we marching?” or responding in other ways. “My 11-year-old son doesn’t understand their situation, and he shouldn’t have to yet”. They need to be respected, and rewarded, for the work they do – and Arizona can do better on this front.

“The inequity of compensation for these teachers is just wrong”, she said. Not surprisingly, as national statistics show, about 8% of U.S. teachers leave each year – most for reasons of dissatisfaction rather than retirement – more than twice the rate of teachers in high-achieving countries like Finland, Singapore and Canada. I want you to know, I am working to get this 20 percent raise passed at the Legislature.

As the strike nears, a growing number of community organizations are offering free child care. Other arts, athletic and educational organizations are offering care for a fee.

Teachers will walk off the job to hold rallies and other demonstrations at their respective state Capitols.

“I had a student in my homeroom ask me why they aren’t good enough to have real books”, Soyka said. “When you put in that much time with people, they become family”.

“We’ve all been listening, but now it’s time to act”, Ducey said in a statement, as he pushed lawmakers to fund his plan. Systems in Australia, Canada, Finland, and Singapore have found ways to compensate teachers as professionals and adequately and equitably fund their schools – and their students achieve at higher rates as a result.

“They closed shop and ran away from us yesterday…we have to show them, they can’t run away from our students”, Thomas said.

Educators who are planning to participate could face consequences in the right-to-work state, where unions do not collectively bargain with school districts and representation is not mandatory.

“I’m supposed to leave for training on June 4”. “It really laid down the foundation for me to be able to go on to graduate from college”.