Teacher Retention: Does it Really Matter?

Much has changed in our world and yet our educational system, by and large, is based on a model created during the industrial revolution. Since then, the working environment and expectations for teachers has dramatically shifted, resulting in a challenge to retain top teachers in the classroom.

Qualified, Experienced Teachers Make a Profound Difference

According to The Economist, a British international news publication, nothing makes more difference to a child’s schooling than the quality of their teachers. Leading studies, notably those by Eric Hanushek of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, have consistently found that teachers in the top quintile of effectiveness can produce five years of achievement gains in a single academic year, whereas teachers in the bottom quintile produce only 0.5 years of gain. California State Board of Education President Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond says, “There is no question that well-qualified teachers are among the most important contributors to a student’s educational experience.”

Multiple Pressures on California Teachers

A recent California Teachers Association (CTA) study found one in four teachers in California have seriously considered leaving the teaching profession. CTA compiled a list of concerns that teachers express when deciding to stay or leave the profession.

Eighty-four percent of educators said their workload has increased while state and local support and resources have decreased. Dr. Darling-Hammond agrees. “In the U.S., teachers work more hours per week/per year than any other teachers in the world.” Adding to that pressure, California ranks in the top five states with the largest class sizes in the country. And 69% percent of California teachers cite inadequate health care coverage with high out-of-pocket expenses as a deterrent to staying in the profession.

Teachers are now expected to extensively support students’ social and emotional health, once centered in families, community and religious organizations. Violence in schools, once uncommon, has become more prevalent.

While everyone dealt with COVID-related school closures, some schools have also had fire-related closures. Heavy use of technology outside the classroom has severely affected student focus along with negatively affecting social behavior. Lack of support for handling mental health issues was cited by 68% of educators as a consideration for leaving the profession.

Teachers are expected to know how to use a staggering variety of ever-changing software and technology tools for student testing and required reporting, but often little or no time is provided or allowed to learn the technology before having to implement it.

Finally, according to the Economic Policy Institute, American teachers earn 26% less than other similarly educated professionals and it is one of the largest such gaps in the world.

Is there anything that can be done to encourage excellent teachers to stay in the profession? Yes. There are several related strategies that parents and communities can implement to ease the pressure on teachers and support quality educational experiences.

Common Threads of Teacher Retention

Advocacy: Community members concerned about education can advocate for policy and structure changes and/or directly support teachers. Creating changes to give teachers the time, resources and compensation appropriate to this important work is essential for teacher retention.

Trust and Appreciate: Although concerned community members may not be involved with the daily work of running a school, choosing leaders (through principal selection committees and school board attendance) who value the work of excellent teachers results in teacher empowerment. Parents can support teachers by honoring teachers’ professional judgement.

Time and Funding for Enhanced Learning:

Examples of excellent teaching include use of innovative teaching methods such as project-based learning and collaboration with outside local or national organizations. Teachers require the time to thoughtfully include broader experiences and interactions with educational organizations and specialties and funding to benefit from professional development opportunities. Specialists need to be able to attend current conferences/workshops and all teachers need to be able to attend both subject-specific and innovative general learning-focused events. Teachers also benefit from time to share with each other examples of successful learning.

For example, the office of education in the district in which I taught paid select teachers who applied to work 10 days in the summer, providing structured time and support for teachers to build a relationship with a variety of organizations. This resulted in field experiences for over 300 students in several high schools. Afterward, advanced math and business classes hosted a schoolwide environmental awareness fair. The Office of Education was able to send professional educators to witness student project presentations and provide feedback for improvement before public presentation.

This work of involving the broader community as part of the classroom experience or creating dramatic presentations, business plans or science fair participation without the required structure supports (time and money), frequently results in teacher burnout.

Community Support and Resources for Teachers: School community members can assist not only by specifically acknowledging teachers but providing resources. For example, when planning a unit on early California history, a teacher might want to know possible field experiences, cost, times, availability and funding.

A parent, after listening to parameters, could research options. Once the teacher decides on the best match for student learning goals, a parent could follow-up with the required logistics.

Backing our educational system by advocating for teachers, both from a policy/administration standpoint and by offering direct teacher support, results in more effective learning for our students. Choosing to put time and effort into our future through such actions is an essential part of creating a positive outcome for students and for the teachers who make such a profound impact on their lives.