How can administrators address teacher turnover?

Broken man and tired from much study

Teacher turnover disrupts classrooms and costs districts a lot of money in hiring—nearly $20,000 per teacher by some estimates. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that the overall teacher turnover rate is 16%, meaning that of every 20 teachers, an average school will lose three.

In some disciplines, like English language development and special education, struggle with even higher rates. The Learning Policy Institute estimates the turnover rate in these fields to be 46% higher than the rate for elementary teachers.

Karla Wang’s article on the Fast Forward blog from Scientific Learning isn’t all negative, though. Based on NCES survey results that found teacher preparation, administrative support, and working conditions, Wang makes these recommendations to improve teacher retention:

Set teachers up for success
Provide teachers with administrative support
Cultivate collaboration

Another easy action step is to share Ruby Payne’s latest book with teachers, Before You Quit Teaching. It’s full of excellent tools and personal stories from Ruby Payne that will help teachers stay in the job.

The best part? You can share a copy of the book with every teacher in your district because Before You Quit Teaching is free on a variety of digital platforms! Check it out today at ahaprocess.com/byqt.

Free: Before You Quit Teaching

About the Author: Ruby Payne

In her two decades as a consultant on education and economic class, Ruby has published more than a dozen books and spoken extensively around the globe. Ruby empowers educators and community leaders to address issues of poverty in classrooms, communities, businesses, hospitals, churches, and social services. Through aha! Process programs and conferences, Ruby has certified thousands of trainees in her Framework for Understanding Poverty and Bridges Out of Poverty models. Her book Emotional Poverty won an IPPY Award from the Independent Publishers organization, which named it one of the best educational resources of the year. Over her distinguished career, Ruby has worked as a teacher and principal, written K–12 curriculum in all subject areas, and assisted in strategic planning and staff development programs for multiple organizations. Ruby’s work guides educators and community leaders through her extensive library of resources. She aims to equip everyone she meets with the tools to write a future story full of hope.