Some Arizona lawmakers think school administrators should be required to teach classes.
A bill sponsored by Sen. David Farnsworth (R-Mesa) would require school principals, superintendents and even business officials to teach a class one day every year.
Farnsworth argues the bill would help with Arizona’s teacher shortage and ensure that officials have an understanding of educators’ needs.
“SB 1427 helps facilitate informed decision-making from administrators while providing a creative solution to help address Arizona's teacher shortage by supplying an untapped crop of substitute teachers who can step up to fill-in when absences occur,” Farnsworth said in a statement.
Arizona School Administrators Executive Director Paul Tighe said although the bill could help with short-staffing, it could also have issues.
“It’s not necessarily fiscally prudent given the pay differences and levels of responsibilities for, let’s say a business manager who has no experience in the classroom typically,” Tighe said.
Tighe also noted that principals and assistant principals commonly serve as substitutes, and principals and superintendents almost always have some teaching experience.
The bill is opposed by the Arizona Education Association. A spokesman for the group declined to comment on the bill.
The bill passed out of the state Senate last week on party lines without the support of Democrats.
