CTODP/ CEA Founder and Retired Superintendent MaryBeth Mueller Discusses the Origins of Tax Credit Legislation in Arizona and the Growing Pains of Organizational Success with Colleen McCoy-Cejka

In this episode, Diocese of Phoenix Retired Superintendent MaryBeth Mueller shares the history of tax credit scholarship legislation in Arizona.  MaryBeth was Superintendent of Schools when tax credit scholarships came into law and immediately prompted the creation of a school tuition organization for the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix.  Catholic Tuition Organization Diocese of Phoenix (CTODP) was one of the first STOs created in 1998.  This new venture created opportunities for schools and families to expand accessibility to private education throughout the state and benefitted the Catholic schools from the start.  MaryBeth shares the process of building the organization, early efforts toward teaching people about the tax credits and scholarships, and contending with the challenges of a new nonprofit start up.  CTODP is now known as Catholic Education Arizona, and in its 24th year of operation, some of the same challenges still exist.  To learn more about the history of tax credits and how CEA came to be the second largest STO in the state, check out this podcast!