In order to dramatically transform the experience of students and what they can achieve, we must do the same for our teachers.
This resource aims to help schools and districts rise to the challenges of this moment and make meaningful changes to the teaching profession in ways that support existing talent and attract a new generation of educators, while also fueling student learning.
Between 2020 and 2022, about 300,000 teachers left the profession, an estimated 3% drop in the workforce.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022, as cited in the Wall Street Journal, 2022)
And almost half of the new hires leave the profession within the first 5 years.
(Ingersoll et al., 2021)
One in four teachers expressed a desire to leave the profession after the 2020-21 school year because of work-related stress and dissatisfaction.
(Steiner & Woo, 2021)
In fact, the percentage of ‘very satisfied’ teachers dropped from 62% in 2008 to 12% in 2022.
(Merrimack College, 2022)
And unsurprisingly, job dissatisfaction is the leading cause of teacher turnover.
(Graph adapted from Carver-Thomas and Darling-Hammond, 2017)
What’s more, the impacts of this leaky pipeline disproportionately affect teachers of color.
Just in the 2020-21 school year, 45% of Black teachers reported a desire to leave the profession—this was almost double the rate of the overall average (25%).
(Steiner & Woo, 2021)
Role and fit defines the ways that a teacher’s role, responsibilities, and a personal sense of belonging contribute to teacher satisfaction.
Compensation, rewards, and recognition defines how increased salary, fair compensation, and positive recognition all contribute.
Working conditions defines the ways that a school’s structure and systems support teachers and contribute to teacher satisfaction.
Career development defines the types of opportunities and resources around career progression that contribute to teacher satisfaction.
Collaborative Teaching Practices
Reconfigure your teachers’ roles and responsibilities to be more collaborative.
Leverage Nontraditional Staff
Leverage nontraditional professionals to act as supplemental teachers, mentors, or additional staff.
Extend Reach of High-Quality Teachers
Extend the reach of high-quality teachers by restructuring the roles and responsibilities of current staff to better fit the needs of students.
Activate Ownership & Self-Direction
Activate ownership and self-direction in student assignments—equip students with the skills, knowledge, and learning activities.
Think Flexibly About Scheduling
Craft schedules that are designed around learners’ needs and that give teachers more flexibility.
Inspire Teacher Autonomy & Voice
Ensure that decisions are grounded in teachers’ perspectives and that they have control over what impacts their day-to-day work.
Support Mindsets & Well-Being
Practice and implement strategies that inspire productive orientation to the work.
Triage Strategies
Looking for immediate ways to handle staffing shortages and educator burnout? Explore these triage strategies.
AVID
K-12 | District | Nationwide
Bronx International HS: Academic Teams
High School | District | Bronx, NY
C.A.R.T.: Industry Experts
High School | District | Fresno, CA
Chicago Public Schools: Scheduling
Elementary Schools | District | Chicago, IL
Clear Creek: Compass Day
K-12 District | District | Idaho Springs, CO
Cristo Rey Jesuit HS: Work Study
High School | Independent Network | Minneapolis, MN
Design39Campus: Team Teaching
Elementary | Charter | San Diego, CA
Digital Pioneers: Educator Wellbeing
Grades 6-10 | Charter | Washington, D.C.
Intrinsic Schools: Team Teaching
Grades 7-12 | Charter | Chicago, IL
Kairos Academies
Grades 5-12 | Charter | St. Louis, MO
Lockhart ISD
K-12 | District | Lockhart, TX
NSSI: Mentor Teachers
K-12 | Support Provider | Nationwide
Next Education Workforce: Team Teaching
K-12 | Support Provider | Phoenix, AZ
Opportunity Culture: MCLs
K-12 | Support Provider | Nationwide
Rocketship School: Educator Wellbeing
PK-5 | Charter | Washington, D.C.
Tulsa Public Schools + Coursemojo
PK-12 | District | Tulsa, OK
Urban Teacher Academy Program (UTAP)
K-12 Districts | Districts | Fort Lauderdale, FL
More examples coming soon!
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