>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN ARIZONA'S NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

ALSO TONIGHT CONCERNS FOR TEACHER ATTENTION IN BUILDING A BETTER TEACHER WORKFORCE IN THE STATE, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CHANDLER CONCERT TRUCK, A TRAVELING MUSIC SCREEN OOH.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA'S 9th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COVERS MOST OF THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE INCLUDING KINGMAN, LAKE HAVASU CITY AND OTHER AREAS OF MOHAVE COUNTY ALONG WITH PARTS OF LA PAZ, MARICOPA AND YUMA COUNTIES.

THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY REPUBLICAN PAUL GOSAR.

WE INVITED CONGRESSMAN GOSAR TO A SCHEDULED DEBATE, BUT THE CONGRESSMAN DID NOT RESPOND.

HIS OPPONENT, DEMOCRAT QUACY SMITH, DID.

AND SO EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH QUACY SMITH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING PART IN THIS INTERVIEW.

I'LL START WITH THE FACT THAT YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST LONG-TIME INCUMBENT IN A VERY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

I THINK THERE'S LIKE 20% ACTIVE VOTERS ARE DEMOCRATS, YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, YOU'RE RUNNING, WHY?

>> BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE, I THINK, NOT ONLY IN THAT DISTRICT AND IN OUR STATE BUT THE NATION.

AND THE IT'S GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT AFRAID TO BREAK THE MOLDS.

THAT ARE WILLING TO BE HONEST AND BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE MIDDLE, WORK ACROSS PARTY LINES, AND YOU NEED A CERTAIN KIND OF CANDIDATE THAT CAN BRING THAT BACKGROUND TO THAT CHARACTER AND CAPACITY TO DO THAT.

AND I THINK FOR THIS ELECTION I POSSESS THOSE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY.

>> TALK ABOUT THAT BACKGROUND BECAUSE AGAIN YOU'RE EARNING AGAINST A -- RUNNING AGAINST A LONG-TIME INCUMBENT.

>> I THINK THE BACKGROUND I BRING TO THE TABLE, I WAS WITH THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, AND RAISED IN RURAL CALIFORNIA.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, FRIENDLY POLICE OFFICER.

I WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE MINISTRY AND STUFF.

SO I GET THE LIVES EVERY DAY PEOPLE.

THAT IS IN MY WORK AS A TRIAL LAWYER HERE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA I KNOW HOW TO WORK THE LAW AND WORK AROUND THINGS AND SO I THINK THAT SKILL SET IS WHAT'S NECESSARY RIGHT NOW.

>> LET'S TALK SOME ISSUES HERE.

IMMIGRATION.

FIRST OF ALL, THE BORDER WITH MEXICO, IS IT AN OPEN BORDER?

BECAUSE YOUR OPPONENT SAYS IT IS, AND YOUR OPPONENT SAYS THE REASON IT IS BECAUSE OF DEMOCRATS LIKE YOU.

>> YEAH.

WELL, MY OPPONENT IS WRONG.

THE BOARDER IS NOT AN OPEN BORDER.

THE BORDER CAN BE MORE SECURE AND SHOULD BE MORE SECURE AND WOULD BE MORE SECURE IF THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT WOULDN'T HAVE BLOCKED THE BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WAS PUT BEFORE CONGRESS.

AND SO -- AND MY OPPONENT WAS A PART OF THAT RESISTANCE.

IN FACT, HE VOTED AGAINST -- 19 DIFFERENT TIMES HE'S VOTED AGAINST A MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED IMPROVE THINGS DOWN AT THE BORDER.

SO IT'S FOLKS LIKE MY OPPONENT, WHO ARE A PART OF THIS PROBLEM, THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, IT'S FOLKS LIKE MY OPPONENT.

THIS IS A CONGRESSIONAL PROBLEM FOR YEARS.

ANY IDEA OF IMMIGRANTS INFLICTING SOCIAL COSTS, ECONOMIC LOSSES, UNEMPLOYMENT, CRIME ON AMERICAN CITIZENS?

AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT YOUR OPPONENT SAYS IS HAPPENING OUT THERE.

FORGET ABOUT WHO'S RESPONSIBLE HERE, HE SAYS IT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE, WHAT CAN REALISTICALLY BE DONE ABOUT IT?

YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND JUST RECENTLY HE HAD ALE PO, GOT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A MIGRANT APPREHENSION IS DOWN 80%.

>> YEAH.

AGAIN, THIS IS MY OPPONENT AND OTHERS IN CONGRESS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS MAKE -- THE ISSUE AT THE BORDER IS NOT A PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE.

IT IS A CONGRESSIONAL ISSUE.

IT IS CONGRESS' JOB TO PASS LEGISLATION TO SECURE THAT BORDER.

AND BOTH PARTIES FOR DECADES HAVE FAILED AT THIS DUTY AND LAID THE RESPONSIBILITY OH OATH NOT MEANT TO BE SECURED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT MEANT TO BE SECURED BY LEGISLATION, AND MY PHONE SENT A PART OF THAT PROBLEM, HAS BEEN FOR 14 YEARS.

>> THE ECONOMY, BIDEN ECONOMIC AGENDA, SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT ALL SORTS OF FOLKS ARE SAYING IS THE REASON THAT INFLATION SKYROCKETED AND IS STILL STUBBORNLY HIGH.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK THAT SOME OF THOSE THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT ARE MISGUIDED.

WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, WE WERE RECOVERING FROM A PANDEMIC LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE THE DAYS OF THE SPANISH FLU.

THE ECONOMY WAS ON ITS WAY DOWN THEN.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE TO HELP IMPROVE THE ECONOMY.

HOWEVER, THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND THERE MAY NEED TO BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN POLICIES FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL, THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL BECAUSE GAS AND GROCERIES ARE STILL TOO HIGH.

AND SO WE APPLIED THE EFFORTS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE BUT THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT AND IT WILL TAKE BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

>> AS FAR AS, THOUGH GOVERNMENT SPENDING, JUST THE SIMPLE PRINTING OF MORE MONEY, ECONOMIST ALSO TELL YOU DO ENOUGH OF THAT AND PRICES ARE GOING TO SKYROCKET.

THEY DID SKYROCKET.

THEY'RE GOING DOWN, BUT INFLATION STILL THERE, AND THE COST OF EVERYTHING IS STILL HIGH.

AS A DEMOCRAT, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK YOU STOP -- FIRST OF ALL, YOU PASS A BUDGET.

CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO DO THIS, AND THESE CONTINUED RESOLUTIONS HAS COST TAXPAYERS TONS OF MONEY.

CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO ITS JOB AND PASS THE BUDGET AND THAT BUDGET NEEDS TO BE BALANCED WITH EVERYTHING WITH THE NATIONAL DEFICIT.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL TAKE PRESSURE OFF OF THE ECONOMY AND DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE THE COST OF HOUSING, MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE EVERY DAY CONSUMER AND THESE HAVE TO BE DONE ON THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.

>> THE TRUMP 2017 TAX CUT, THERE'S LOTS OF TALKS AMONG REPUBLICANS, GET TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE, GET CONTROL OF CONGRESS, EXTEND THAT TAX CUT.

WOULD YOU VOTE TO EXTEND THAT TAX CUT?

>> AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME OF THE TAXES THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP PUT IN -- TAX CUTS THAT WERE BENEFICIAL BUT OTHER THINGS FOR BILLIONAIRES, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THEY NEED TO FAIR THEIR FAIR SHARE LIKE EVERY DAY AMERICANS DO.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT MESSAGE RESONATES IN YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT?

AGAIN, A VERY CONSERVATIVE, ANTITAX DISTRICT?

>> WELL, SURE, IT DOES.

BECAUSE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHO NEEDS TO BE BEING TAXED AND WHO DOESN'T.

I AGREE THERE SHOULD BE TAX ON TIPS, I AGREE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY SHOULD NOT BE ATTACKED.

IN MY DISTRICT, IT'S EVERY DAY PEOPLE.

WE DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF BILLIONAIRES LIVING OUT IN THAT DISTRICT.

IT'S EVERY DAY FOLKS LIKE ME THAT WORK EVERY DAY JOBS AND THAT ARE NOT POLITICIANS AND NOT BILLIONAIRES, AND AGAIN, TAXES NEED TO BE FAIR AND FUNDAMENTAL FOR EVERYBODY.

THAT'S HOW OBVIOUSLY THE NATION GAINED ITS REVENUE.

SO SOME OF THOSE TAX CUTS NEED TO BE EXTENDED BUT OTHERS NEED TO BE DISCONTINUED SO FOLKS LIKE BILLIONAIRES CAN PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> ABORTION RIGHTS, ABORTION ACCESS.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION SPECIFICALLY REGARDING CONGRESS AND HOW MUCH CONGRESS SHOULD BE INVOLVED?

>> I THINK CONGRESS NEEDS TO CODIFY ROE VERSUS WADE, THE RIGHT FOR WOMEN TO CHOOSE.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN TO THE ISSUE OF ABORTION, PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS PRO-CHOICE IS NOT NECESSARILY PRO-ABORTION.

IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED, COMPLEX MEDICAL ISSUE THAT INVOLVES RELIGIOUS THINGS.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS PROVIDE PEOPLE A FRAMEWORK THAT'S BASED OFF OF ROE VERSUS WADE AND GIVE THAT TO PEOPLE TO LET THEM MAKE THEIR DECISIONS, THERE ARE LATE-TERM ABORTIONS FOR BIRTH CONTROL PURPOSE, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

BUT PLEADING WHEN THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD AND IVF AND OTHER THINGS, NO, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOLKS FRAMEWORK AND GIVE THEM A RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND EVERYONE THAT IS PRO-CHOICE IS NOT NECESSARILY PRO-ABORTION.

>> IS THAT A MESSAGE AGAIN THAT YOU THINK RESONATES WITH PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, INDEPENDENT, DEMOCRATS, AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT.

I MAY BE PRO-CHOICE BUT DOESN'T MEAN I'M PRO-ABORTION.

>> THE IDEA OF REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT, A VAST NUMBER OF FOLKS, IF -- IF YOU WERE ELECTED TO CONGRESS AND YOU GO TO WASHINGTON, DO YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AS YOU SEE IT OR DO YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AS FOLKS IN YOUR DISTRICT SEE IT?

BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE VERY DIFFERENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

THAT'S THE BEST QUESTION I'VE BEEN ASKED BY ANYBODY LIKE YOU.

ARE YOU THERE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE.

MY JOB IS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF CD-9.

EVEN THOUGH I AM RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT, I'M AN UNASHAMED MODERATE DEMOCRAT.

I'VE SAID IT OPENLY.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE IN MY OWN PARTY TELL ME YOU'RE NOT FAR ENOUGH LEFT.

I'M NEVER GONNA BE FAR LEFT LIKE THAT.

LIBTARD, ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF THEY SAY, I AM A MODERATE DEMOCRAT, AND IF I'M SENT TO WASHINGTON I'M THERE TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT AND UNDERSTAND CLEARLY IT IS A CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT.

MY JOB IS TO NOT IMPOSE MY WILL OR DECISIONS BUT TO REPRESENT THEIR DISPUTES THEIR IDEALS.

>> AND WHAT IF THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR IDEALS ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE THINGS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT?

>> AGAIN, THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT, GET PEOPLE TOGETHER, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT AND HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONSTITUENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND PUT PEOPLE OVER PARTY.

I'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT, AND I ALWAYS WILL.

>> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

QUACY SMITH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

WISH FOR A DEBATE BUT CLOSE ENOUGH WITH THE ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE YOU.

>>> AND A PROGRAM NOTE, WE'RE PRESENTING A SPECIAL ELECTION SHOW NEXT WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23rd, AZ VOTES 2024, ELECTION DAY AND BEYOND.

THAT WILL AIR AT 7:00 P.M. AND WE'LL BE JOINED BY PANELISTS TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER VOTING CONCLUDES IN ARIZONA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

NOW, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PART OF THE IN-PERSON STUDIO AUDIENCE FOR THAT SHOW, THERE'S A QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN.

YOU CAN SCAN IT TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

WE'VE TAKEN THE SHOW TO 2:00 P.M. THAT DAY, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23rd, FOR AZ VOTES 2024, ELECTION DAY AND BEYOND.

>>> A NEW STAFFING MODEL CALLED THE NEXT EDUCATION WORKFORCE SALES TO ADDRESS THE PERSISTENT SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON MOVING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL MODEL OF ONE TEACHER IN ONE CLASSROOM AND TAKING MORE OF A TEAM APPROACH.

OF TO LEARN MORE, WE ARE JOINED BY CAROL BASILE AND DEAN AT ASU'S MARILOU FULTON TEACHERS COLLEGE.

OKAY, NEXT EDUCATION FORCES.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO DISMANTLE THE ONE-TEACHER, ONE-CLASSROOM MODEL AND START TO THINK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS, AND SO WE TALK ABOUT THE CRATE MODELS OF SCHOOLING, KIDS IN BOXES AND ONE TEACHER AND 25 KIDS, AND THAT JOB IS NO LONGER, IN MY VIEW, HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

SO HOW DO WE, THEN, START TO THINK ABOUT MULTIPLE CLASSROOMS OF KIDS, RIGHT, INSTEAD OF SAYING HERE'S YOUR 25 AND YOUR 25 AND YOUR 25 AND GOOD LUCK.

HOW DO WE SAY HERE'S A GROUP OF KIDS, RIGHT, 75 KIDS, 100 KIDS, HERE IS YOUR GROUP OF TEACHERS AND HOW DO THEY WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM WITH A SHARED ROSTER, SHARED SPACE, STARTING TO GROUP, REGROUP TO THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE GETTING WHO THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT.

>> HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

BECAUSE THOSE OF US OF A CERTAIN AGE REMEMBER TEAM TEACHING, WHICH WAS KIND OF EVEN VOGUE FOR A WHILE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO TEAM TEACHING.

>> ACCOUNTABILITY HAPPENED TO TEAM-TEACHING.

THAT WAS A THING, RIGHT, IN THE 60S AND 70s.

WE SAW THAT HAPPEN.

I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED WAS PEOPLE WERE NEVER PREPARED TO WORK ON TEAMS.

I THINK WE'RE NOW AT A POINT WHERE WE'VE SEEN FEWER PEOPLE COMING INTO THE PROFESSION, WE'RE SEEING MORE PEOPLE LEAVING.

IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING TO REALLY REDEFINE WHO THE TEACHER IS, WHAT THEIR ROLE IS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT ROLES, THE RIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> HOW BIG AN ISSUE IS TEACHER RETENTION RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'LL STICK WITH ARIZONA, BUT NATIONALLY AS WELL.

>> IT'S HUGE.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT WE TALK ABOUT RETENTION, LIKE WE THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STAY IN JOBS FOR 10 OR 20 YEARS.

AND I DON'T THINK, FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT WE DO WANT THEM TO STAY LONGER AND WANT THEM TO CREATE MORE STABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.

MY GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO'S 7 YEARS OLD, IN A CLASSROOM.

SHE HAS A SECOND-GRADE TEACHER WHO'S FANTASTIC BUT IF THAT TEACHER LEAVES, THERE'S NOBODY WHO KNOWS THAT CHILD AS THAT CHILD ADVANCES.

WHEN THAT CHILD HAS A TEAM, MOW WE'VE CREATED A MORE STABLE WORKING CONDITION FOR TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY'RE HAPPIER WORKING IN TEAMS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN.

AND WE'VE GOT KIDS, WHO ARE ALSO HAVING A MORE STABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

>> LET'S TAKE THAT CHILD.

SHE GETS TO SCHOOL, SITS DOWN AT HER DESK, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS NEW MODEL.

>> LOTS OF THINGS HAPPEN.

SCHEDULES ARE CHANGING.

S IN NOT -- THERE IS LESS -- THEY'RE MOVING AROUND MORE.

THE TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW LONG DOES THE KID WHO NEEDS EXTRA TIME IN MATH GET TIME IN MATH, HOW DO THEY GET EXTRA TIME IN READING, HOW DO THEY GROUP, HOW DO WE REGROUP, AND NOW THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE.

YOU HAVE A BEHAVIOR ISSUE IN A CLASSROOM, A TEACHER CAN TAKE THAT CHILD OUT AND THE OTHER TEACHERS NOW FILL IN AND MAKE SURE THAT LEARNING CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.

>> IS THERE A PROBLEM POSSIBLY IN THAT THESE TEACHERS -- THIS TEACHER IS REALLY GOOD, THIS TEACHER IS OKAY, THIS TEACHER IS NOT THE BEST, THIS TEACHER IS EXCELLENT.

AND THE TEAM BECOMES -- SHE'S BEING BOMBARDED BY DIFFERENT THINGS, IN OTHER WORDS?

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

>> WELL, FULLY, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, RIGHT.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A GRADE-LEVEL OR CROSS GRADE-LEVEL, FOUR TEACHERS IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, OR COULD BE A HIGH SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL, ONE TEACHER IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A 12-YEAR TEACHER WHO'S NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED AND ANOTHER TEACHER WHO WAS A SUMMER ENGINEER, WHO CAME BACK WHO LOVES TEACHING MATH AND SCIENCE BUT NOT SO GREAT AT TEACHING READING.

ANOTHER ONE COPYING OUT OF OUR PROGRAM, FIRST-YEAR TEACHER, ANOTHER ONE ON AN EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE.

SO TODAY, WE'RE SEEING WHERE ALL OF THESE TEACHERS HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE, AND THE QUESTION IS WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR KID.

WELL, YOU WANT ALL OF THEM, BUT YOU ALSO WANT YOU A OF THEM TO HAVE DIFFERENT LAYERS AND LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY SO THAT THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, AND WERE REALLY USING THE STRENGTHS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL ON THAT TEAM.

>> I SEE.

YOU TESTIFIED ABOUT THIS AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING, CORRECT?

>> I DID.

>> WHAT DID YOU SAY?

>> WELL, I SAID THAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT IS BUILT ON AVERAGE.

AN AVERAGE A STATISTICAL ANOMALY.

AND THAT WHAT IS REAL IS VARIANTS.

SO TEACHERS ARE NOT ALL GOING TO BE THE SAME.

WE TALK ABOUT PREPARING THEM THE SAME WAY, WE EXPECT THEM TO WALK OUT AND BE EXACTLY THE SAME.

AND THEY'RE NOT.

VARIANCE.

AND OUR CHILDREN ALSO, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEIR NEEDS.

THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO WE START TO BUILD A SYSTEM FOR VARIANCE, NOT FOR AVERAGE, AND WE NEED KIDS WHO NOW CAN WORK TOGETHER, BUT ALSO TEAMS OF TEACHERS WHO ARE SUPPORTING THOSE KIDS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> TRAINING THOSE TEACHERS TO BE MORE TEAM PLAYERS.

DOES THAT MAKE FOR A DIFFERENT -- DOES THAT MAKE FOR A DIFFERENCE THERE AT THE FULTON COLLEGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE ARE DOING LOTS OF THINGS RIGHT NOW TO BE MORE NIMBLE, MORE FLEXIBLE, MORE -- DIFFERENT KINDS OF MODALITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHER THAT WE ARE PREPARING ARE WALKING OUT KNOWING HOW TO WORK ON TEAMS.

THEY'VE HAD EXPERIENCE WORKING ON TEAMS.

WE NEED MORE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MOVING TOWARDS TEAM-BASE.

WE'RE NOW WORKING WITH 150 SCHOOLS ACROSS ABOUT 13 STATES RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S MOVING QUICKLY.

WE'VE HAD OVER 900 PEOPLE VISIT ARIZONA OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO COME SEE WHAT THESE MODELS LOOK LIKE.

SO THE MORE WE CAN BUILD SCHOOLS THAT ARE MOVING TOWARDS TEAM-BASE MODELS, THE MORE WE CAN PREPARE OUR TEACHER CANDIDATES TO WORK IN THESE MODELS AND THE BETTER WE ARE AND THE BETTER WE CAN START TO CHANGE WHAT PREPARATION LOOKS LIKE.

>> LAST QUESTION HERE.

IS THERE A BARRIER TO THIS INNOVATION, AND IF SO, WHAT IS IT?

>> TODAY THE BARRIER IS THAT ALL OF US WENT TO SCHOOL IN A ONE-TEACHER, ONE-CLASSROOM MODEL, RIGHT.

SO THE BIGGEST BARRIER IS PEOPLE HAVING A VISION FOR WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE AND REALLY CHANGING THE SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION.

>> BUT WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS?

ARE THEY OH OH DO THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS STANDING IN FRONT OF A CLASSROOM, SAME KIDS, SAME CLASS, DOES THERE NEED TO BE A CHANGE THERE, A CHANGE OF MINDSET THERE?

>> 100%.

THERE ARE TEACHERS, RIGHT, AND SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL LEADERS THAT SEE THIS AND THAT ARE MOVING THIS DIRECTION.

AND ONCE THEY'RE IN IT, THEY STAY.

>> YEAH.

WELL, WITH THE TEACHER RETENTION ISSUE, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S A BIG DEAL OUT THERE, ARIZONA HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THE CHANDLER CENTER OF THE ARTS IS BRINGING IN AN INNOVATIVE AND FREE MUSIC EXPERIENCE TO TOWN THIS MONTH BY WAY OF THE CONCERT TRUCK, WHICH LOOKS TO REDEFINE THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE.

JOINING US NOW MICHELLE MACKLENNAN, GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> CHANDLER CONCERT TRUCK, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> THIS IS A WONDERFUL TRAVELING CONCERT EXPERIENCE.

THESE PIANO VIRTUOSOS TOOK A BOX TRUCK AND CONVERTED IT INTO A FULLY FUNCTIONING STAGE WITH LIGHTS AND SOUND AND A GRAND PIANO, AND IT WILL BE MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH CHANDLER FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS.

>> WE'RE SEEING SOME VIDEO HERE BUT HOW DOES IT WORK?

I MEAN, IS IT BASICALLY JUST LIKE A LITTLE-BITTY STAGE WITH LIGHTS AND THE SOUND SYSTEM AND THE WHOLE -- >> IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

THE DOORS SWING OUT AND A STAGE COMES OUT.

THE PIANO IS ON IT, AND BASICALLY IT CAN PULL UP INTO ANY LOCATION, AND YOU HAVE A CONCERT READY IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AND IS IT JUST THE PIANO OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS ON THERE?

>> THERE'S THE CAPABILITY OF OTHER INSTRUMENTS BUT THE PIANO IS THE MAIN INSTRUMENT.

>> OKAY.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE A FULLY FUNCTIONING MOBILE CONCERT HALL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HOW'S THE SOUND?

>> BEAUTIFUL.

THEY PULLED IN YESTERDAY TO THE PARKING LOT, SO I GOT TO SEE THEM PRACTICING, AND IN FACT, THEY'RE DOING A CONCERT, THEY JUST FINISHED UP A CONCERT RIGHT NOW WITH DIGNITY HEALTH, AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH A STROKE SUPPORT CAREGIVERS GROUP, AND WE'RE DOING ALSO ONE WITH AN -- A COMMUNITY, AN INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY.

THIS IS DESCRIBED AS REDEFINING OUR EXPERIENCE.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK IN A VERY FORMAL SETTING.

LOTS OF DOORS AND ADMISSION PRICES AND FORMALITY, WE WANT TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE ARTS, AND SO THIS WAY WE JUST BRING IT TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE BRING IT TO THE FARMER'S MARKET OR BRING IT DOWN THE STREET, AND YOU CAN JUST SEE IT RIGHT THERE WITHOUT ANY KIND OF CONCERN ABOUT HOW YOU'RE DRESSED OR WHAT YOU HAVE OR DON'T HAVE.

AND IT'S JUST KIND OF MAKING ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

>> WHO ARE THE PERFORMERS?

>> TWO PERFORMERS DOING THE WHOLE RUN, NICK LUBEY AND SUSAN ZANG.

AND THEY ARE PIANISTS BY TRADE, BUT THEY ARE WONDERFUL PERFORMERS, AND THEY DO VARIOUS REPERTOIRES WITH THE TRUCK.

SO MOST IS CLASSICAL MUSIC BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE GREAT AMERICAN SONG BOOK AND THEY ALSO PERFORM FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES OR INTERGENERATIONAL AUDIENCES.

THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD AT THIS.

THEY'VE BEEN AROUND QUITE A BIT >> THESE AREN'T LOCAL, NECESSARILY.

>> NO.

>> THEY DO IT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY?

>> THEY DO IT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE KENNEDY CENTER, THE OPERA IN D.C., AND SO THEY GET THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MODEL THAT'S GOING ALL OVER THE NATION.

AND, YEAH, THEY ARE NOT -- THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME TO ARIZONA AND CHANDLER.

>> VERY GOOD.

HOW LONG WILL THE CONCERT LAST?

>> TYPICALLY THEY'RE 45 MINUTES >> OKAY.

>> BUT WE HAVE A LITTLE EBB AND FLOW ON THAT.

>> AND AS FAR AS REACTION SO FAR, I MEAN BE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS GETTING KIND OF EXCITING IN CHANDLER, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING SO FAR?

>> WELL, I MEAN, JUST THE AWE OF THEM SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT PRACTICING BROUGHT PEOPLE AROUND, PEOPLE WERE VIDEOTAPING.

WE WILL REALLY FIND OUT SOON BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE AT FARMER'S MARKET ON SATURDAY, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE AT THE ART WALK ON SUNDAY, AND THEN WE'RE DOING A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERTS AS WELL, SO I ANTICIPATE PEOPLE WILL BE REALLY EXCITED.

>> THE FARMERS MARKET AND THE OTHER ONE YOU MENTIONED.

>> THE OTHER ONE IS THE CHANDLER FARMER'S MARKET ON SATURDAY, AND BE CHANDLER ART WALK ON SUNDAY.

>> WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?

>> THEY'RE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN CHANDLER.

WE'RE DOING A POP-UP CONCERT TOMORROW AT CITY HALL, AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT MAKES SENSE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE FROM THIS?

I MEAN, THIS ALL SOUNDS COOL AND CERTAINLY INNOVATIVE AND DIFFERENT.

IT'S KIND OF -- BUT RESIDENTS OVER, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO WALK AWAY WITH?

AND THEY WILL BE WALKING AWAY.

THEY WON'T BE CLIMBING OUT OF THEIR SEATS, BUT WALKING AWAY.

>> THEY WILL.

WELL, WE REALLY JUST WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A LIVE CLASSICAL CONCERT, TO JUST BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THAT, TO BE INSPIRED IN THAT MOMENT, AND TO JUST REALIZE THAT PART OF A COMMUNITY'S WELL-BEING IS HAVING THIS ACCESS, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF EVENTS OF THIS NATURE BUT THIS ONE'S PARTICULARLY SPECIAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE -- I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THEY GET TO GO SEE BEAUTIFUL CONCERTS, AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, SO IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING.

>> AND AS FAR AS THE ARTS ARE CONCERNED, CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS, POST PANDEMIC, NOW IF YOU ADD UP ALL OF THAT BUSINESS, JUST IN GENERAL, YOU GOT ABOUT A MINUTE OR SO LEFT, THE STATE OF ART IN ARIZONA IN CHANDLER.

>> YEAH, WELL, WHAT IS REMARKABLE IS WE HAD A VERY GOOD RECOVERY POST PANDEMIC, WE'RE ACTUALLY AT PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE.

SO THAT IS REALLY -- WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND WE REALLY HAVE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT THINGS LIKE THE CONCERT TRUCK AND HAVING THE ARTS BE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE IN A LOCAL ENVIRONMENT IS SO IMPORTANT AND SO OUR MISSION IS REALLY THAT ACCESSIBILITY AND REDUCING COSTS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

SO WE'RE INVESTING A LOT MORE MONEY IN THOSE PROJECTS, AND WE ARE CELEBRATING 35 YEARS.

>> MY GOODNESS.

>> YEAH.

I KNOW, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.

>> BUT THERE WERE LESSONS LEARNED, WEREN'T THERE.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WE HAD REALLY BEEN A NATIONAL BE PRESENTING MODEL AND JUST KIND OF STUCK THERE.

AND THIS LOCAL, HYPERLOCAL FOCUS ON MAKING SURE OUR CITIZENS, RESIDENTS AND NEARBY PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN AT WORK ON.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS AND THE CHANDLER CONCERT TRUCK.

SOUNDS LIKE A HOOT.

THANK YOU, MICHELLE MACLENNAN, CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.