Retaining Great Teachers in a Time of Turmoil
May 5, 2021
For many teachers, the thought of leaving the profession is heartbreaking. And yet about 8 percent of teachers do it every year—many of them young and early in their careers.
It's unclear how the fallout from COVID-19—the unparalleled physical, financial, and emotional stressors, and the upending of what work looks like—will ultimately affect those statistics on a national scale. But many teachers say they’re more frustrated and stressed than ever.
To understand more about why teachers consider leaving—or actually do make the jump—and the impact of the pandemic on their decisionmaking, the EdWeek Research Center surveyed about 1,000 teachers and school leaders online in March 2021. The nationally representative results provide a backbone for this series of stories, which are meant both to illuminate the barriers to keeping great teachers and offer some solutions.
It's unclear how the fallout from COVID-19—the unparalleled physical, financial, and emotional stressors, and the upending of what work looks like—will ultimately affect those statistics on a national scale. But many teachers say they’re more frustrated and stressed than ever.
To understand more about why teachers consider leaving—or actually do make the jump—and the impact of the pandemic on their decisionmaking, the EdWeek Research Center surveyed about 1,000 teachers and school leaders online in March 2021. The nationally representative results provide a backbone for this series of stories, which are meant both to illuminate the barriers to keeping great teachers and offer some solutions.
Teaching Profession From Our Research Center Why Teachers Leave—or Don't: A Look at the NumbersNew EdWeek survey results reveal why teachers consider leaving the profession, and how the pandemic has changed their decisionmaking.
Recruitment & Retention From Our Research Center Principals and Teachers Don't Always See Eye to Eye. Can Getting In Sync Reduce Turnover?Teachers and principals are not on the same page about why teachers teach, why they quit, and how to get them to stay.
Recruitment & Retention Pay Raises and Pandemic Bonuses: Can They Keep Teachers in Classrooms?Some states are proposing salary hikes and offering teachers one-time bonuses. Will the money have an effect on post-pandemic retention?
Teaching Profession 4 Ways Districts Are Giving Teachers More Flexibility in Their JobsAfter a year-plus of pandemic schooling, some experts are seeing momentum for district leaders to reimagine what teaching can look like.
Equity & Diversity What Black Men Need From Schools to Stay in the Teaching ProfessionOnly 2 percent of teachers are Black men. Three Black male educators share their views on what's behind the statistic.
School & District Management Teachers' Mental Health Has Suffered in the Pandemic. Here's How Districts Can HelpTeachers’ stress and anxiety have soared during the pandemic, making it critical for districts to look after their mental health.
Recruitment & Retention Mentors Matter for New Teachers. Advice on What Works and Doesn'tMentorships can go a long way in keeping new teachers in the field. But not all mentor-mentee relationships are created equal.
About This Project
This report is part of a larger joint collaboration between Education Week and Roadtrip Nation. The project also includes an original national survey, documentary video features, and an online Teachers Community Hub. Support for this work comes from Carnegie Corporation of New York, Overdeck Family Foundation, Strada Education Network, and Walton Family Foundation.