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‘We Are Listening Tour’ comes to Northern Arizona

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Arizona Superintendent of Education Diane Douglas and other officials had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the challenges and opportunities facing education in Northern Arizona when the “We Are Listening Tour” arrived on June 13 at Coconino High School.

A crowd of about 50 parents, teachers, school administrators and members of the public came out early on Saturday morning for the presentation.

Sitting on the panel with Douglas were Rep. Bob Thorp (R-District 6) and Carol Lippert, associate superintendent of the AZ ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development).

For the most part speakers asked officials with the state’s education office to support more funding for education, requested that input by educators be included in any plans to update testing of students, with some calling on the Superintendent’s office to be more positive in its attitude toward teachers.

Most of the speakers asked the Superintendent to keep the Common Core. However, they agreed changes can be made to improve the testing program.

The Flagstaff visit was one of 14 stops made in communities throughout the state, most recently in Prescott (June 11), with the final stops to be made at:

  • 5 p.m. Thursday, June 18 at the Navajo Nation Council Chambers in Window Rock
  • 9 a.m. Saturday, June 20 at the Round Valley Dome in Springerville

Douglas said she will be returning to Flagstaff and other tour stop communities this fall to report on results of the statewide visit.

Meanwhile, comments can still be sent in directly via email at HearingEveryVoice@azed.gov, by clicking here or by going to http://www.azed.gov/hearingeveryvoice/

The following are links to media coverage of the most recent tour stops: