Pinal Today

The Maricopa Unified School District revealed on Aug. 11 that it invested more than $1.5 million in professional development during the 2021-2022 school year, making good on its goals to invest in its current workforce.

According to a story by InMaricopa, the district allocated the funds to six different areas: $322,000 for phonetics, linguistics, literacy and writing skills engagement; $65,000, for teaching concepts; $865,000 for professional learning; $280,000 for professional development; $5,200 for English learners; and $12,000 to technology, social and emotional support, and the arts.

“This commitment has a direct impact on teaching and learning and the return on investment for our students is 10-fold,” MUSD Academic Services Assistant Superintendent Sheryl Rednor said to InMaricopa. 

Rednor also said the funding came from a variety of sources.

“As a board member, I’m super excited about our investment in our staff because it’s not just our certified staff, but our classified staff as well that get professional development,” school board member Torri Anderson said. “As a staff member, I know it can be overwhelming… As a board member just as it’s important to invest in scholars, and the students in the classroom. This is a bigger microscope, and as a district, we also need to invest in our own classroom, which is our staff. We’ve invested so much money in curriculum, I want to see that curriculum taught in the classroom.”

Superintendent Dr. Tracey Lopeman said the investment also helps provide faculty with the tools they need for success.

“Another measure would be stability in our teachers,” Lopeman said. “We want to give them a range of pedagogy (teaching methods) and methodology so they can be effective with a range of students, so they can feel effective, feel accomplished, and have lots of tools to draw on and know they’re in a district that invests heavily in their continued development and support.”

Other board members said the investment in people is more helpful and cost-effective than that in materials.

“I have specifically seen the work that is being done in phonics in the K-3, K-5 area,” school board member Anne Marie said. “I see it in my own home. I think that’s a great addition and a great thing to focus on. Also not just buying new curricula but investing in training the teachers on how best to put it to use in the classroom.”

The return on the investment is also easy to see.

“There is over $300,000 in discretionary funding that Dr. Lopeman and the board have approved to put into professional development, so we’re all investing above and beyond in development because that directly impacts the classroom," School Board President Robert Downey said. 

Rednor added that the programs that are subject to funding are evaluated by using exit surveys of teachers, as well as observation in the classroom and student achievement to make sure curricula are being properly implemented.