Keeping Good Teachers

1
Keeping Good Teachers
Presenter Diana Burroughs
2
The Problem

• 50 of new teachers leave in the first five
  years

Lambert, Lisa. Half of Teachers Quit in 5
Years Working Conditions, Low Salaries Cited
The Washington Post May 9, 2006 Page A07
3
Why new teachers leave
New teachers leave for identifiable reasons,
including
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Why new teachers leave Disrupted expectations
on both sides

• New teachers have flawed expectations about
  their jobs and jobs have flawed expectations
  about new teachers.

Robertson, M., Hancock, D., Anderson, L. A. Why
Novice Teachers Leave. Principal Leadership 6.8
(April 2006) 33-36 Feiman-Nemser, S. Keeping
Good Teachers What New Teachers Need to Learn.
Educational Leadership 60.8 (May 2003) 25-29
5
Why new teachers leave

• Lack of administrative support

• Lack of parental support

• Classroom management/Behavior problems

• Problems with time management and a lack of
  personal time

• Finding chaos rather than order and
  predictability in school environment

Robertson, et al. Williams, Jackie. Why Great
Teachers Stay. Educational Leadership 60.8 (May
2003) 71-4
6
Experienced teachers leave too
But guess what?
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Why teachers leave, in general

• Testing and accountability pressures

• Increased paperwork

• Negative student attitudes

• Unsatisfactory working conditions

• Lack of parental support

• Lack of administrative support

Jalongo, M.R. Heider, K. Editorial Teacher
Attrition An Issue of National Concern. Early
Childhood Education Journal 33.6 (August 2006)
379-380
8

Why teachers leave, in general

• Lack of resources/ Out-of-pocket expenses

• Low salaries

• Inadequate preparation

• Lack of mentoring support in early years

• Low status of the profession in US society

• Retirement

Jalongo, M.R. Heider, K. Williams, Jackie.
9

What can be done to keep new teachers in the
classroom?
Induction programs are key
10

The single most important element in any
induction program
MENTORING Experienced teachers help new teachers
grown into their roles
11

Mentoring MUSTs

• Time to meet and develop relationship

• Two-way class visits

• Accepting, non-judgmental responses

• Guidelines for growth

Watkins, Paul. The Principal's Role in
Attracting, Retaining, and Developing New
Teachers Three Strategies for Collaboration and
Support. The Clearing House 79. 2
(November/December 2005) 83-87
12

Mentoring Ideas

• Have after school reflection seminars

• Assign a team of mentors to each new teacher

• Mentors can help navigate parent issues

Polanksy, H. Semmel, M. Hiring the Best and
Retaining Them School Administrator 63.8 (2006)
46-47
13

More Mentoring Ideas

• Career-change new teachers need extensive
  mentoring too

• Allow for possibility of extending mentoring
  relationship

• Mentoring is a learned skill. Mentors need
  training!

Watkins, Paul. Alvy, Harvey. Preventing the
Loss of Wisdom In Our Schools Respecting and
Retaining Successful Veteran Teachers. Phi Delta
Kappan 86.10 (June 2005) 764-6, 771
Feiman-Nemser, S.
14

Induction DO NOT
Saddle new teachers with the worst schedules, the
worst students, and the worst teaching
assignments
Alvy, Harvey.
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Induction DOs

• Give a reduced or less stressful teaching load

• Administration should assist with basic tasks of
  teaching, including classroom management,
  paperwork, and personal time management

• Hold professional development workshops for new
  teachers

Alvy, Harvey. Renurd, Lisa. Keeping Good
Teachers Setting New Teachers Up for Failure
Or Success. Educational Leadership 60.8 (May
2003) 62-64 Robertson, et al. Feiman-Nemser, S.
16

Benefits of Induction Programs

• New teachers perform better in the short and
  long term

• New teachers are more likely to stay

• Experienced teachers benefit from mentoring
  relationships too

• Sense of school community and professional
  relationships are strengthened

17

Something important to keep in mind
People become teachers because they value having
an emotionally and spiritually fulfilling job
more then they value making a lot of money
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So what makes teachers feel fulfilled?

• Evidence of having exerted a positive impact on
  students

• Right balance between autonomy in the classroom
  and connectedness with other staff

• Positive work environment

Jalongo, M.R. Heider, K. Williams, Jackie.
19

What makes a work environment positive?

• Challenges

• Appreciation and respect

• Good collegial relationships amongst teachers

• Physical surroundings

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A little about challenges Teachers learn and
grow from appropriate challenges much like
students do.
Sargent, Barbara. Keeping Good Teachers
Finding Good Teachers and Keeping Them.
Educational Leadership 60.8 (May 2003) 44-47
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More specifically

• Awards/Recognition

• Work with the PTA to create ongoing teacher
  appreciation projects.

• Use the Internet to brainstorm. The
  possibilities are endless!

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Ideas for fostering collegial relationships

• Professional development book clubs

• Social events dinners, retreats, informal and
  optional happy hours

• Faculty softball games

• Mentoring programs

Sargent, Barbara.
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Ideas for physical surroundings

• Improve facilities with renovations, new
  buildings, etc.

• Makeover the teachers lounge

• Improve landscaping

• Tap into PTA for ideas and volunteers

Williams, Jackie.
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A little about TeachersCount

• Behind every famous person is a fabulous
  teacher campaign
• We do nationally what I am encouraging you to do
  within your schools

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Make Teachers Feel

• Respected

• Valued

• Professional

• Fulfilled

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Laura Bush and her second grade teacher, Charlene
Gnagy
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Marg Helgenberger and her high school English
teacher, Mariann vonRein
28
Tony Shalhoub and his acting teacher, Tom Power
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Eddie Falco and her high school music teacher,
Sandy Valerio
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Virginia Madsen and her theatre teacher, Suzanne
Adams
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Thank You