While it may not be a widespread problem, salary issues and raised expectations have made it hard for some Arizona schools to fill their teacher openings. 

The state has turned to recruiting internationally, according to a recent Arizona Republic article. According to the Arizona Department of Education, "low pay and tough new expectations for teachers have led to a shortage of qualified people willing to take jobs in Arizona's classrooms. Arizona has approximately 95,000 certified teachers, but only about 52,000 are teaching this year."

Shannon Goodsell, superintendent of the Casa Grande Union High School District, hired a few recent graduates from out-of-state education colleges, the article said. "Next, he began Skyping with high-school math and science teachers in the Philippines who had applied for work visas to teach in the United States. He selected 11."

"They have master's degrees and most have bachelor's degrees in the subjects that they teach," Goodsell said. "It has been working very well."

A recent survey conducted by Arizona's Education Department found that "64 districts had lost about 2,100 teachers after last school year. At the start of this school year, the districts that responded to the survey were still seeking about 400 teachers to fill openings."

The small amount of teachers in Arizona may be a national problem, according to Deb Duvall, executive director of the school administrators association and Mari Koerner, dean of Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, said the improved economy has led potential teachers to take other jobs. 

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Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor