Move to Arizona with my daughter????

I am graduating from college in May with a degree in Special Education and with a certification from Illinois. I've decided that Chicago is not my place anymore, I really have nothing here other than my handful of friends I've had for my whole life, and my boyfriend and his son. My daughter and I will move to Arizona first for a few months until my boyfriend and his son's mother figure out visitation in court(he has custody) any who, I want to teach special ed, but I also plan to go back to school part-time to get another degree in biology. I was looking at places in mesa and tempe, they seem nice and are way more affortable than what I'm paying now in chicago for a half-way decent neighborhood. I want to live in an area that is diverse with all kinds of people, that is safe, decent schools for our children, and a high school for me to teach at. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of these areas, or if there are anyother areas, that are diverse and safe, for my family? I do not plan

on buying a home until about ten years from now, so that's not the case, just a nice cozy apartment in a safe place for my family. What are cons other than heat? What are some culture shocks I might encounter compared to chicago? how is driving is it safe, are there alot of accidents? Do school buses pick the children up? Is food expensive? Anything else you might be able to tell me would be perfect! Thanks everyone:-)

I have lived in Phoenix area for 18 years and am raising 3 kids in the valley. I love the area and will never move. The school systems are okay for the most part. I love because like another person said you could have 80 degrees on Christmas day or 50. Either way you can't shovel sunshine. It does get hot here in the summer but after two to three summers you get use to it. I would rather have thee months or so where it is hot and 9 months of good temps, where you can get outside and do things with your family or hike by yourself. It would be a great move for you and you will love it.

i used to live there it is not a very good place to raise children but i would reconmend canyon elementry school in glendale right outside of phoenix there is a very good special ed program and it is in a fairly nice neighborhood

Personally, the west is the way to go! I am 14, and my parents moved to Tucson when I was 10 and we lived there until last year. It is a great, family-oriented state. Yes, it is hot, but it is tolerable. The schools there are amazing; the teachers in Tucson really want to help the students. Tucson is where I'd reccomend, especially since you have children. If you can live with 80 degrees on Christmas Day, then you can handle it. Best of luck!

Hi there,

I am also a teacher (former Special Ed, now I teach Gifted). I moved here in 1999 from NJ and had to deal with the certification department for the teacher's credentials. My NJ SpEd certificate was not reciprocal in AZ-I had to take some additional courses. I am more than happy to chat with you through email to discuss teaching, certification, Graduate school, and local school districts. I am also completing my Master's Degree in May for Curriculum/Instruction & Administration. I've gotten to know a little more about the school politics since starting the Admin program at ASU East.

I also have a 3 year old son who will eventually attend the school district where I teach.

My email is sharonf226@yahoo.com

I think Tempe, Chandler, and Awatuki are nice places here in the Valley.
My biggest gripe is the Rat Race. I'm sure other places are worse, but traffic is my least favorite thing. Phoenix is also very transient with people moving in from all over, staying a few years then leaving, so I feel it can be quite impersonal, with very little sense of community in most areas.

Tempe and Mesa are nice, but Tempe is college town (ASU), so it's really busy and watch out for those drunk college kids on the weekends. Being college town, there's people from all over the world there. I personally would pick Chandler, Gilbert or Ahwatukee to live in. They are right next to Mesa and Tempe, but are more family oriented. It does get super hot in the summers, but there places to cool off and have fun like the Malls, Golf land Sunsplash, Jeepers or the near by lakes. You can also take a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive to Payson where it's cool if you really need a break from the heat.

iam a 13 i used to live there last year its not safe thats y we moved it very hot there is a lots of killers i am not joking
http://www.azfamily.com/ing

but if u do go to tempe

I would recommend you move to northern Arizona and not in
the Valley of the Sun. There is an illegal population element
that has risen over the years and the problems with the teens
of that element are destroying the great city with the violence
and trouble in the schools.
Prescott, and Flagstaff are more safe and are small towns
with big appeal. You can raise children there and not be
worried about gangs and the transients that come through
the cities during the winter months and stay until they are
harrassed by police, before moving elsewhere close by.
There's beautiful Sedona in between the two towns that
you would love to see with Red Rock Crossing, and Slide
Rock for recreation. You won't have the severe heat in summer in Prescott or Flagstaff, and you'll even see snow in the winter sometimes. They have the perfect small town feel and are perfect for raising a family. And it's not that long of a drive to the big city of Phoenix to do major shopping.

iuse to live in both .. but i really like mesa

arizona in general is still the wild west. but the big cities like Phoenix its the year 2017, or so it seems, phoenix metropolitan area covers 7million residents. i lived there for 15 years. if you live in the right area its wonderful. if you go into the lower income areas, you are in for a shock, it can be dangerous. its an indoors only kind of city, the weather is extreme. very very hot in the summer 100 plus degree weather is the normal. in the winter its in the 40's. construction is the biggest employer and electronics.(low humidity)-BluRey

Hope your Conservative and Pro Gun Most i've seen come from Illinois want to make Arizona like the place they left