instructional assistant

safety, health and environment assistant

community assistant

office assistant

liaison

Phoenix Union High School District

Educators are not treated well in much of this district. Treatment varies campus to campus, but my experience is not singular. Benefits are decent, pay is not commensurate to education. 

Teachers are asked to do far more than they are paid to do. There are after contract hours activity that teachers have to argue to be paid for. Many are forced to use curriculum that doesn't match district required final exams and face constant lack of communication and support. 

Teachers are not considered in any decision making about their courses. Poor student behavior is not well addressed by admin and many teachers with valid concerns are ignored. Rampant nepotism and high turnover rate produces inconsistent teachers and  unprepared/under-qualified staff at the expense of fair treatment for high quality teachers and at the expense of high quality education for students. 

When schools are under-performing, admin blames teachers instead of looking at systematic failures. Because of this, staff can be disengaged (being blamed as the problem instead of being asked to help find the solution is insulting). 

Admin ignores teachers and doesn't engage with students. Most of the student population has no idea who their admin are. At a campus and district level, teachers and staff are not regarded as professionals, but rather warm bodies certified to babysit. The district claims to be a cohesive community, but that is a lie; they only take notice if you are willing to sacrifice your whole life to the profession.

I worked for the district for many years as an hourly employee. Phoenix Union was good to me. There are great benefits and a union that has your back. I'm going to miss working 9 months instead of 12. 

However, the pay is low compared to outside industry (but high compared to other districts,) and there are no standard operating procedures or formal training. Your experience can vary widely from campus to campus in all respects, so it's best to research the campus you're applying for. 

Education is a volatile industry lately. The district almost never lays people off, but job functions can change at a moment's notice as needs change, especially nowadays. Base pay rarely changes to match. Raises ('steps') occur across the board and are not based on performance for the most part. However, there are often opportunities to make extra money taking tickets at night games, coaching, working events, helping with summer school, etc.

Computer Lab Assistant is a good stepping stone job if you're already technically inclined. They groom you for higher in-district IT positions from day one, though on-the-job training varies by campus. 

I enjoy working at PXU because it gives me the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students during one of the most important stages of their lives. Every day, I get to help young people grow academically and personally, while encouraging them to see their potential beyond the classroom. The diversity within the district allows me to learn from my students’ experiences and perspectives, which continually shapes me into a more reflective and effective educator. I also appreciate the collaborative environment among colleagues who are passionate about education and committed to student success. PXU supports innovation and encourages teachers to try new strategies that engage learners and prepare them for the future. Being part of a district that values equity and opportunity reassures me that the work I do matters. Ultimately, working at PXU aligns with my purpose as an educator—to inspire, support, and empower the next generation to achieve their goalvieonment

I enjoyed having the opportunity to be out on campus and visiting the classrooms.  I also loved the reaction I received from the campus workers when I  would ask them to just sit down and chat for a few minutes. I wanted to know about their day, families or plans for the weekend. It was important to return all phone calls as soon as possible,  At the same time I made sure that I had a clear understanding of any concerns being expressed.  I learned that I couldn't save every child but I made sure that I encourage the teachers and staff to do their part in communicating positively .
The hardest part of the job, feeling like you are out there by yourself   when in fact you aren't alone.  Their thought process work differently so a little extra patience might be necessary.

Teaching has changed immensely in the past decade and I do believe that PXU has done their best to make thoughtful decisions that promote learning, safety, and compassion. I do not think that the district itself has a true grasp on how much teachers are really doing outside of the traditional instruction role and the time/energy that it takes, which makes it tough when more high level district positions open and teach pay stays the same. I do not think that this is unique to PXU though, I think education in AZ is a tough business and that this district truly is trying to do right by students, then do right by teachers. It is not perfect but I doubt the educational grasses are greener elsewhere.

Supportive admin who also live and are apart of the community.  Great students.

Management:
The management style at my school is supportive but also expects teachers to be independent. There's a good amount of trust in the staff's abilities, and they provide resources when necessary, but you need to be proactive and self-motivated. Feedback is usually constructive, with a focus on improving the overall learning environment.

Workplace culture:
The culture at the high school is collaborative and centered around student success. Teachers often share ideas, tips, and strategies to help one another. There’s a sense of community, and while things can get stressful, the support from colleagues helps to balance it out.

While the school district pays the highest salaries in the state of Arizona for certified staff, its drawbacks are that there is much pseudo-nepotism, double standards in hiring practices, implicit bias against older skilled and educated professionals, implicit gender and ethnic bias in leadership positions, and very passive aggressive culturally across the district. These stressors don't outweigh the higher salary and great benefits offered by this employer.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The student population is a key in teaching. Students come from different cultural backgrounds and this contributes to enhance a healthy and positive communication in achieving understanding, respect, and caring in a pluralist society. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part is not having enough Human Resources on campus to oversee the needs of many students who need support. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
I find that the environment is relatively safe. Students and faculty need to feel safe to avoid stress.

Phoenix union used to be a sought out district with competitive pay but it’s no longer the case. The principals are truly the worst I’ve ever worked with. It creates a situation where teachers keep moving schools within the district in the hopes of being treated better. It’s a systemic issue. The district then fills their Human Resources with principals instead of qualified hr. The people in talent protect the principals and all of their abuse of power. They are cruel to teachers. There’s a lack of support for teachers, support staff, and this district is not learning from what is going on with turnover.

I've been a student for 3 and a half years now at North High School and I have been observing the livelihood of the students on a day-to-day basis. The typical day is loud and quite crowded. I learned that other students with the higher education ranked classes have more respectful peers. The staff is pretty well oriented as far as I know. My peers are always up and down and networking is very useful. The most difficult part about being a student is time management and going to class. As for the most enjoyable part of the job is to learn new things and take courses that help me prioritize and shape my passions for the future.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Instructional assistant 99 salaries reported	$17.78 per hour
Safety, health and environment assistant 43 salaries reported	$19.01 per hour
Community assistant 41 salaries reported	$19.01 per hour
Office assistant 42 salaries reported	$18.99 per hour
Liaison 17 salaries reported	$20.53 per hour

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