ADE Educator Recruitment & Retention Team

Our Commitment to Arizona’s Educator Workforce

A high-quality education is essential to Arizona’s economic vitality, workforce development, and the long-term success of our students, families, and communities. Strengthening Arizona’s educator workforce requires coordinated, sustainable, and strategic actions that attract, support, and retain highly qualified professionals in every classroom across the state. Through intentional investment in recruitment, preparation, and retention, Arizona will build a sustainable educator pipeline that reflects the communities it serves and supports long-term student success. These outcomes are achieved when the following principles guide statewide efforts:

  • Competitive and Sustainable Compensation
    Educator salary and benefits are commensurate with the education, preparation, responsibility, and impact of other professional career fields.
  • Well-Resourced Learning Environments
    Classrooms, students, and educators are fully supported with the instructional materials, staffing, and supports necessary for teaching and learning to thrive.
  • Empowered Educators and Career Pathways
    Educators experience meaningful professional autonomy, receive relevant and ongoing professional learning, and have access to leadership and advancement opportunities across their careers.
  • Strong and Collaborative Leadership
    Effective, professional, and collaborative leadership is present at every level of the education system, fostering trust, innovation, and shared responsibility for student success.

  • Informing and Advocating Through Research and Data
    Developing and disseminating research‑based toolkits, resources, and guidance that empower communities and LEAs to collaboratively advocate for the needs of educators and students at both the local and statewide levels.
  • Delivering Meaningful Professional Learning
    Providing high‑quality, relevant professional learning and development that honors educators as experts, is differentiated to meet diverse needs, and supports continuous growth throughout an educator’s career.
  • Cultivating Leadership and Advancement Pathways
    Building and supporting leadership pathways that respond to local system needs, strengthen instructional practice, elevate educator efficacy, and improve student achievement—while allowing educators to grow without leaving the classroom.
  • Strengthening Recruitment and Retention Systems
    Establishing effective statewide and local systems, supports, and pathways that attract, prepare, and retain education professionals across Arizona, particularly in high‑need and hard‑to‑staff communities.
  • Ensuring Strong Preparation and Ongoing Support
    Supporting education professionals as they enter and progress through the workforce with high‑quality preparation, essential resources, and continuous, job‑embedded support at all levels of the education system.

 

Team bio

The Educator Recruitment and Retention team brings extensive expertise in educator workforce development, program design, and statewide systems improvement. Led by Director Will Ambos and Deputy Associate Superintendent Jamie Wilber, the team includes Apprenticeship Specialists Grant Lapinski and Ryan Salcido, K12 Military Community Liaison Lee E. Fernwault, and Data Reporting Analyst Rebekah McLeod. Together, they advance statewide strategies that expand educator pathways, support military‑connected communities, strengthen apprenticeship models, and deliver actionable data to districts and schools. Their collective experience spans teaching, school leadership, military service, global education, and data systems—all focused on improving educator recruitment, preparation, and retention across Arizona.

Jamie Wilber is the Deputy Associate Superintendent for Educator Preparation, Certification, and Recruitment and Retention at the Arizona Department of Education, where she provides strategic leadership to strengthen Arizona’s K–12 educator workforce. She oversees cross‑functional teams and collaborates with state, district, and community partners to advance statewide priorities, ensure policy alignment, and enhance program effectiveness. With 26 years of experience as a special and general education teacher, assistant principal, and principal Jamie brings deep operational and instructional expertise to her role. Her leadership emphasizes data‑informed decision‑making, accountability, and continuous improvement, guiding initiatives that support educators and improve student outcomes. Jamie is committed to ensuring all students have access to highly effective educators. She holds a Master’s in Educational Administration and Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education (Cross‑Categorical).

Will Ambos is the Director of Educator Recruitment & Retention at the Arizona Department of Education, where he leads statewide strategies to build and sustain a strong educator workforce. With 24 years in K–12 education, he provides strategic direction for programs that attract, develop, and retain high-quality educators. Will partners with districts, higher education, state agencies, and community organizations to align workforce initiatives with policy priorities and student needs. His leadership emphasizes data-informed decisions, innovative practices, and long-term talent development. Committed to scalable systems that support educator success and improve LEA retention, he focuses on strengthening pathways into the profession and reducing barriers to educator longevity. He holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership, a Post-Baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

Lee E. Fernwault is the K12 Military Community Liaison with the Educator Recruitment and Retention team at the Arizona Department of Education, where he leads programs supporting military‑connected students, families, and aspiring educators. A Navy veteran and Phoenix native, Lee brings over 18 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and program lead. Since joining ADE in 2018, he has advanced statewide initiatives including the Educator Preparation Program online portal, Troops to Educators, DoD SkillBridge internships, and the Arizona Purple Star School Program. His work strengthens pathways for military community members entering education and enhances school culture and climate—efforts recognized by a City of Phoenix Police Chief’s Letter of Commendation. He holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership, a Post-Baccalaureate in Secondary Educatiton, and a Bachelor’s in Business Management,

Rebekah McLeod is a Data Reporting Analyst with the Educator Recruitment and Retention team at the Arizona Department of Education, where she supports statewide educator workforce initiatives through analysis of retention data, surveys, and leaver reports. Her work has contributed to the development of public data dashboards that provide districts and schools with actionable insights to strengthen educator retention. With ten years of experience in state and federal reporting, Rebekah brings deep expertise in education data systems, compliance, and stakeholder coordination. She previously managed data for state programs including special education and nutrition services, developing reporting processes that ensured accuracy and regulatory alignment. Rebekah holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Arizona State University.

Grant Lapinski is an Apprenticeship Specialist and Education Program Specialist at the Arizona Department of Education, where he supports the development and implementation of the Arizona Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program. With five years of experience in Arizona’s K–12 system and previous experience teaching English in Japan, Grant brings both local insight and global perspective to expanding high-quality educator pathways. His work focuses on building sustainable apprenticeship models that strengthen teacher preparation and workforce development statewide. Grant’s international teaching experience and extensive travel inform his commitment to cultural understanding and learner-centered practices. He holds a Master of Education and a B.A. in History from the University of Arizona.

Ryan Salcido is an Apprenticeship Specialist and Education Program Specialist with the Arizona Department of Education, where he supports the expansion and implementation of the Arizona Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program. A former band director with 12 years of experience in Arizona public schools, Ryan brings deep expertise in program design, assessment systems, and student-centered instruction. His background includes leading instrumental music programs across multiple districts, developing assessment frameworks, managing budgets, and coordinating district and state festivals—consistently earning “Superior” performance ratings. Ryan applies this instructional and operational experience to strengthen educator preparation pathways, streamline reporting systems, and support schools in adopting high-quality apprenticeship models. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Arizona State University.