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First-Year Arizona Teacher Talks About Challenges Of Initial Year In Classroom During Pandemic

This school year has been a challenging one for Arizona teachers, filled with a lot of uncertainty. And for Alisza Smith, it’s been that and then some.

Smith is the dance teacher at Camelback High School in the Phoenix Union High School District, and while she was a long-term substitute last year, this is her first official year teaching. 

The Show spoke with Smith about what it has been like to have her first year in the classroom be this school year, with remote learning and all of the other challenges.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.