Calhoun: Proud of MUSD, its teachers and students

I have been watching with interest the debates, criticisms and compliments surrounding the performance of Maricopa Unified School District as compared with other districts. A key component has been danced around and largely left to the side in these discussions — the teachers and the students they teach.

Full disclosure: I am a fourth-year English teacher at Maricopa High School. Prior to teaching here, I taught high school in both Michigan (my home state) and Wisconsin (my husband’s home state). I taught first-year composition at Marquette University while I earned my master’s degree in English, and I taught English at Arizona State University while I worked toward my Ph.D. in literature.

Teaching at Maricopa High School has been, by far, the most rewarding teaching experience I could have ever wanted. I work with phenomenal students, dedicated peers and a motivated and compassionate site administration. The mantra of our work: Do what is best for our students.

It is no secret that we have struggled as a district to make AYP — a designation based on a ludicrously complex formula incorporating multiple group data pieces. Once a district does not make AYP, it is very difficult to get out of the hole.