Former Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Steve King started his new job as Yavapai County Superintendent earlier this year.

“I’m grateful to be in the position I’m in,” King said. “I’m very excited. It’s a daunting task, but we have a lot of work to do, and I think we can do a lot of good work together. But I need everyone’s help.” So I’m going to reach out and ask for a lot of help. I hope they’re open to it.”

King replaces Tim Carter, the county’s longest-serving councilman, who has been re-elected in every election since Carter took office in 2005. Mr. Carter supported Mr. King in the Republican primary, where Mr. King defeated Prescott Unified School District Trustee Carla Woods. .

With no Democrats running, King was the de facto winner of the Nov. 5 general election and was sworn in along with other county officials on Dec. 16.

“I’m glad you actively supported me.” [King’s] I am running because I have the utmost respect, admiration, and confidence in him as a school leader and advocate who believes in providing quality service and leadership and doing what is right for children. ,” Carter said in a statement. “He has a great and experienced staff that will support him as much as I do. He plans to uphold his motto of ‘listen, innovate and serve.’

King spent his first year continuing Carter’s work running the Yavapai County Office of Educational Services, learning how the county’s bureaucracy works and getting to know the needs of his constituents. He said there would be three priorities.

“This year is going to be primarily a year of learning,” King said.

One less responsibility for King’s office is the Yavapai County Broadband Initiative, which aims to bring broadband internet access to underserved homes and businesses in unincorporated areas.

“The project will not be completed.” [YCESA] already. That will be handled by Corey Christian of the Yavapai County Library Network, so I have little to do with it,” King said.

King also said he will explore ways to expand teacher training programs to get more high-quality teachers in front of students.

“We have to develop our executives. [teachers]. I think that’s going to be a big challenge over the next few years. It always has been that way, and it always will be that way,” Dr. King said.

A Sept. 26 press release from the Arizona School Board Human Resources Managers Association states that while 25% of teaching positions are vacant across the state, 52% are filled by teachers who do not meet Arizona’s certification requirements. He said there was.

The 2023 Educator Working Conditions Report commissioned by the state of Arizona states that “69% of current educators said they considered leaving their jobs in the past year.” “Slightly more than half of those educators [54%] He said there was at least some possibility that he would leave within the next year or two. ”

“If we can attract higher quality teachers into the classroom to replace teachers who are retiring or transferring, that will be a huge help to schools.” [YCESA]” said King. “What exactly does that look like? I don’t have any concrete plans right now. My most concrete plans at the moment are to learn how everything works and build on what’s already in place. is to continue. [Over] In the last three months, I have visited almost all the districts, 25-26 districts. I’ve heard many similar concerns. The number one thing is to find a good teacher. ”

King said other goals are to meet the growing needs of special needs students and technology.

“The advent of artificial intelligence and what it means for educators was nowhere in my campaign or in my focus as superintendent,” King said.

Another challenge facing the district is a shortage of school bus drivers. The Sedona-Oak Creek School District recently added about 30 minutes to bus ride times to compensate for operating with 50% fewer drivers. COCSD also announced on Dec. 31 that due to a driver shortage, some stops were being eliminated and the district was creating community stops.

“This role does not have direct oversight of these districts,” King said.

YCSEA launched a new website, yavapaicoesa.gov, on Monday, January 6, and announced that the previous URL will be inaccessible by mid-year.