West Valley School Districts

Pathways to Teaching!

Follow your passion. Study locally. Serve your community.

Northern Arizona University in collaboration with Tolleson, Littleton and Union Elementary School Districts is offering convenient, tuition-free* pathways to teacher certification. Students joining this partnership will receive up to a $2,000 annual stipend, invitations for specialized professional development events, the opportunity to gain work experience while completing degree program requirements and advanced consideration for open positions with the partner school districts following graduation!

The following nationally accredited, state-approved, rigorous degree programs are available:

Undergraduate programs delivered primarily in-person at a local school district site as:

• • BSED Elementary Education
  • BSED Special and Elementary Education
  • As well as option to complete undergraduate certificate leading to an Early Childhood Endorsement

Graduate programs delivered online:

• • MEd Elementary Education with Certification
  • MEd Special Education Mild Moderate Disabilities with Certification
  • MEd Early Childhood Special Education with Certification
  • MAT Teaching Science with Certification

These graduate programs can be taken through a traditional pathway completing required coursework and then student teaching. These graduate programs can also be taken through an alternative pathway allowing students who meet additional requirements to apply for an Arizona Department of Education Alternative Teaching Certificate and be hired by Tolleson or Littleton Elementary School District as the teacher of record for a class while simultaneously completing the online, graduate degree program.

*Degree programs offered through the West Valley School Districts partnership are eligible for the Arizona Teachers Academy (ATA) Scholarship. The ATA Scholarship covers any remaining tuition and mandatory student fees after all available grant aid and scholarships have been applied. ATA is NOT a need-based scholarship and is open to ALL students who are enrolled in an eligible degree program and are US citizens or permanent residents; ATA recipients must be able to complete a FAFSA and be eligible for federal student aid. Click here for more information about ATA at NAU.

Application Process

Currently recruiting individuals passionate about teaching for this new West Valley partnership! If you are interested in being part of this new NAU/West Valley school district partnership:

Fill out this interest form and NAU Student Services staff will contact you to discuss how to get started!

This short form asks for basic information so an NAU Student Services staff member can contact you to help identify your pathway to admission to NAU and an undergraduate or graduate teacher certification degree program. If possible, please locate a copy(ies) of your unofficial transcript in advance of your meeting with NAU’s Student Services staff member.

Contact NAU to get started!
Josh Perkins – Enrollment Coordinator
602-298-4014
northvalley@nau.edu
Schedule an appointment:
https://calendly.com/naujoshperkins

Open Positions: Apply Now!

Tolleson Elementary School District (see https://tolleson.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx) and Littleton Elementary School Districts (see https://www.applitrack.com/littletonaz/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1) are hiring paraprofessionals for the upcoming school year. If you already have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in pursuing one of the graduate degrees leading to teacher certification that are listed above, you might also be able to qualify for an Arizona Department of Education Alternative Teaching Certificate and a teaching position. Paraprofessional and teaching positions allow you to start your teaching career while earning your degree. Check out the school districts’ job boards and contact the school districts directly for more information about open positions:

Tolleson Elementary School District
Cathey Mayes, Administrator of Human Resources
Phone: 623-533-3910
Email: cmayes@tesd17.org

Littleton Elementary School District
Maria Williams ,HR Supervisor
Phone: (623) 478-5644
Email: Williams.Maria@littletonaz.org

Union Elementary School District
Luis Vasquez , Human Resources Analyst
Phone: (623)440-3644
Email: lvasquez@uesd.org