Do Teachers Need to Speak Spanish to Find Work? (Phoenix: school, live)

[tferriday]

I'm considering moving in with a relative who lives in Phoenix within the next few years. I teach in San Francisco and have a question for those who currently teach in Phoenix.

Must a teacher be fluent in Spanish to find a K-12 teaching position at a public, private, or Catholic school in Phoenix? In California, especially the SF Bay area, there is a concerted effort to compel teachers to learn Spanish. While I adore the Hispanic culture and respect its traditions and customs, I think it's ridiculous to assume that Hispanic children can only learn from Hispanic teachers or those who are fluent in Spanish.

I'm well aware of the racial demographics of Phoenix, but race is NOT the issue for me. The issue is the idea that a teacher who only speaks English cannot find work, regardless of his/her qualifications, in an area with a large Hispanic population. This fact is becoming a reality in California.

Any comments or ideas? I would greatly appreciate any information that you would be willing to share.

[Finger Laker]

absolutely not - in fact, unless it's a specially designated classroom your spanish skills could be against the law if used

[joninaz]

It might help in day to day situations but doesn't seem to matter in terms of jobs. About 5,000 metro area teachers from various districts recently got pink slips. So the real key to getting a teaching job here is finding one that's available.

[horseplayer]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

absolutely not - in fact, unless it's a specially designated classroom your spanish skills could be against the law if used

The best thing for the students would be for you to speak ZERO Spanish.
Check out Alhambra ESD. It's highly Mexican, but the School Board is a lot more concerned with test scores and student achievement than your ability to rattle with illegals.