Recruitment & Retention
Staff shortages. Grow-your-own programs. Turnover. Learn more about recruiting and retaining teachers and other school and district staff
The State of Teaching
New national data on the teaching profession, vivid reporting from classrooms, and resources to help support this essential profession.
Recruitment & Retention Districts Can't Pay Teachers Promised Incentives After Trump Admin. Cuts FundingGrants meant for teacher and school leader development in high-need schools were abruptly cut by the Trump administration. Districts are looking for other options.
Recruitment & Retention Why Teachers Choose Schools (It’s Not Just About the Paycheck)Multiple surveys make clear that teachers care deeply about school culture when sizing up jobs. Here's what that means.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion Want to Retain Teachers? Try These StrategiesBetter money is a solid first step. But teachers need to be treated as professionals if they are to stay.
Recruitment & Retention: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ways to recruit good teachers?
The ways that teachers find school jobs has changed in recent years. But recruitment hasn’t gone all virtual. According to a 2022 EdWeek Research Center survey of job seekers, only 5 percent said they find out about K-12 jobs through virtual job fairs. Many more job seekers find jobs by looking at district websites (54 percent), word of mouth (47 percent), and education-focused job websites (42 percent).
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
What qualities do principals look for when hiring teachers?
Many principals place the most weight on how a teacher will fit in with their school’s culture. That attribute was more valued by principals than whether the teacher’s certification aligned with their school’s needs, according to a 2022 survey by RAND.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal’s desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal’s desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
How can schools retain teachers?
Here is some advice on retaining teachers from Principal David Arencibia of Colleyville Middle School in Texas:
· Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
· Create a positive school culture.
· Celebrate your staff.
· Listen to your staff.
· Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
· Create a positive school culture.
· Celebrate your staff.
· Listen to your staff.
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Recruitment & Retention Q&A How These Principals Got Creative to Recruit STEM TeachersOne big tip is to recruit teachers you already have and help them make the switch to STEM.
Recruitment & Retention Q&A How This District Lowered Its Teacher Vacancy Rate to Almost ZeroKnox County schools in Tennessee has a multifaceted strategy to hire and retain more teachers.
Recruitment & Retention Schools Have Their Work Cut Out to Get STEM Teachers. Here's How to Do ItSchools can be creative about using current staff and partnerships with businesses to provide STEM learning.
Special Report STEM Teachers: How to Find the Good Ones and Keep ThemSee how schools are making progress, and where they are falling short, in addressing chronic teacher shortages in STEM fields.
Recruitment & Retention Some Districts Are Still Struggling to Hire Teachers for the New YearAs the school year creeps closer, districts are still trying to find qualified teachers to fill spots.
Recruitment & Retention Why This District Established Its Own Police DepartmentPolice departments nationwide are struggling to recruit officers. That makes it difficult for districts to find school resource officers.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion Grow-Your-Own-Teacher Programs Could Use a RedesignAn advocate for future educators offers an alternative way to engage today’s students in teaching.Recruitment & Retention Spotlight Spotlight on Teacher Shortages: Causes, Impacts, and Effective SolutionsThis Spotlight will help you learn what teachers say keeps them on the job, key steps to building teacher pipelines, and more.
Recruitment & Retention Video This District Was Struggling to Find Teachers—So It Started Recruiting AbroadBy recruiting international teachers, this Texas district was able to address some of the staffing needs in their growing district.
Recruitment & Retention Candidates for School Jobs May Be Lying on Resumes. What to Do About ItA high percentage of job applicants cheat throughout the job application process. AI could make the problem worse.
Recruitment & Retention What the Research Says 4 Keys to Building a Pipeline From High School to the Teaching ProfessionA statewide career-tech program in Maryland shows promise to expand and diversify the pool of new educators. Here's how.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion ‘Grow Your Own’ Teacher Programs Are MisguidedSuch recruiting initiatives wind up prioritizing the needs of education systems rather than those of students.
Recruitment & Retention Retention Is the Missing Ingredient in Special Education StaffingMany special education teachers switch to other teaching positions. Districts are exploring ways to keep them in the needed role.
Recruitment & Retention Video Meet the High School Students Already Training To Be TeachersThese young future educators share the moments that motivated them, and the concerns they have for their future.
Recruitment & Retention Video A Look Inside a High School Devoted to Training the Next Generation of EducatorsThis magnet high school supports Texas students pursuing careers in education. Here's how it works.
