By: Erica Little | Report for America Corps Member

Career and technical education programs are meant to prepare students for in-demand jobs through hands-on training that leads to industry certifications. But four current and former teachers at Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology, also known as CAVIT, said chronic shortages of classroom supplies have undermined that mission, forcing some instructors — and, in at least one case, a student — to pay to keep classes running.

Editor: Jeff Gottlieb

Jeff Gottlieb worked as a staff writer and editor at the Los Angeles Times and the San Jose Mercury News. While at the Times, he shared the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service Reporting in 2011 for uncovering widespread corruption in the Los Angeles County city of Bell.  His stories led to the conviction of seven city officials, statewide legislation, and an increased focus nationwide on the salaries of public officials. As a result of the stories, Jeff received the George Polk Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Medal, and the Selden Ring Award, among others. 
While working working for the San Jose Mercury News, Jeff won his first George Polk Award for uncovering Stanford University’s questionable spending of federal research funds.  As a result of those stories, Congress held hearings, Stanford’s president resigned, and new federal regulations were enacted.  He also has written articles for Mother Jones, the Nation, Time, Los Angeles Magazine, Rolling Stone, Columbia Journalism Review and the Village Voice and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows.  He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif. and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, both of which have honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus.

Top image: Two construction crew members work on CAVIT’s central campus expansion March 4 in Coolidge. Erica Little/PinalCentral