6 Effective Approaches to Improve Teacher Retention

Teacher retention is important for schools and students to thrive, considering teachers are the backbone of any school. However, many teachers feel overworked and undervalued, and recent data shows that many are leaving the profession in large numbers. 

Besides taking away valuable experience, student learning and achievement can be disrupted when teachers leave. Keeping good teachers helps create a steady learning space where students can grow, and school communities can flourish.

Why Schools Need to Focus on Teacher Retention

 Teacher retention refers to a school's ability to keep teachers in their positions, rather than losing them to other professions or schools. Retaining experienced teachers is often a big challenge, especially in high schools, where the job can be quite demanding.

When experienced teachers leave, it creates bigger problems for schools than merely finding replacements or filling vacancies. First, teacher departures affect the entire school, from the way classrooms run, to how students learn. Students lose the chance to learn from experienced teachers who understand their needs and have built strong connections with them.

High turnover also puts extra pressure on the remaining staff, who may have to take on more work and other duties while new teachers adjust to their roles.

More importantly, the cost of replacing teachers is quite high both financially and also in terms of the time and energy it takes to rebuild relationships with students and re-establish classroom routines.

When schools make the effort to retain skilled teachers, it leads to a stable and effective school environment where students get the help they need, teachers feel appreciated,  and both students and teachers can do their best.

How High Schools Can Improve Teacher Retention

Teachers leave for many reasons, some of which schools can’t control. However, principals and administrators often have more influence on a teacher’s decision to stay than they might realize.

Over time, schools have found several simple, cost-effective strategies that can help keep their best teachers. Here are six effective ways high schools can improve teacher retention:

1. Mentorship Programs

One way high schools can keep teachers longer is by setting up mentorship programs. These programs connect new teachers with experienced colleagues who can guide and support them during their early years in education.

Having a mentor makes a big difference for new teachers as they figure out things like lesson planning and managing a classroom. Mentors can share tips and strategies that have worked for them. This kind of guidance helps new teachers feel more confident and ready for the challenges of the classroom. 

Studies show that teachers with mentors are more likely to stay in their jobs, as this kind of support helps them feel more connected and valued in their school community.

2. Professional Development Opportunities

Giving teachers regular opportunities to grow professionally is a great way to increase retention. To help teachers stay updated on the latest teaching strategies and educational trends, high schools can offer:

• Workshops
• Online courses
• Collaborative planning sessions
• Peer learning groups
• Personalized professional development, focusing on their teachers specific needs
• Guest speaker events

In addition to helping them improve in their roles, offering opportunities to build their skills shows teachers that their growth matters to the school. When they feel supported in their careers, they’re more likely to stay committed to their roles.

3. Supporting Teachers With Better Work-Life Balance

Teaching is hard work, and many high school teachers face heavy workloads that can lead to stress and burnout. To address this, schools should introduce work-life balance practices that support teachers’ well-being.

One way to ease stress is by helping teachers set clear boundaries between work and personal time. For example, teachers can choose not to check or respond to work emails or messages once the school day is over. Another idea is to have uninterrupted designated planning period during the day so teachers can use that time to prep lessons or catch up on tasks without worrying about taking work home, or being asked to participate in another duty during their planning time

Schools can also offer wellness programs or mental health resources to help teachers take care of themselves. When teachers feel that their well-being matters, they’re more likely to stay in their roles and do their best work.

4. Fair Pay and Benefits

While many teachers are passionate about their work, a competitive salary can help them feel recognized for their hard work and expertise.

To improve teacher retention, high schools should make sure their pay is on par with other schools in the area. Schools can make teaching more appealing with benefits like:

• Health insurance
• Retirement plans
• Chances to move up within the school

Rather than looking for other options, talented teachers are likely to stay in the profession when the pay and benefits are fair.

5. Keep Top Teachers by Having Honest Conversations

Sometimes, a simple conversation about how much teachers are valued can help keep them in their roles. Unfortunately, many schools miss this step. Studies show that some high-performing teachers leave because they simply weren’t asked to stay by anyone in their school.

It might seem small, but when principals or administrators take the time to appreciate what teachers bring to their school, it can convey to teachers that they are an important part of the school team.

School leaders need to ask what might make teachers who may be considering leaving reconsider. Research suggests that over 75% of teachers who left their positions might have stayed if their concerns had been addressed. Through open and honest conversations, schools can find solutions that work for everyone.

6. Giving Teachers a Say in Decisions

Including teachers in decisions that directly affect their work strengthens their sense of togetherness and belonging. When teachers feel their opinions matter, they are more likely to stay committed to their school.

One way to do this is by setting up committees or groups where teachers can share ideas about things like:

• Class schedules: Teachers can share their input on how to structure class times to better support learning and balance workloads.
• Professional development plans: Allow teachers to suggest topics or formats for training sessions to ensure they meet real classroom needs.
• Curriculum updates: Teachers can suggest changes or additions to the curriculum based on their classroom experiences and student needs.
• Technology adoption: Consult teachers when selecting new tools or software, as they will be the ones using them most often in the classroom.
• School-wide policies: Invite teachers to provide input on rules or policies that affect their everyday routines, such as grading systems or student discipline procedures.

This kind of collaboration is likely to lead to better decisions and also shows teachers that the school values their expertise.

Take Action to Support Teacher Retention

High schools can retain more teachers  by making the workplace more supportive. When schools take these steps, teachers feel appreciated and are more likely to stay. This stability benefits students as they gain the advantage of experienced teachers who truly understand their needs.

Tools like Evaluation can take these efforts even further. This software helps track and improve teacher performance, making it easier to support teachers with the right resources. By using Evaluation, schools can build a stronger, more stable teaching team, ultimately benefiting both teachers and students.

If your school is interested in new ways to improve the learning experience for children, you may also be interested in automating tasks and streamlining processes so that your teachers have more time to teach. Education Advanced offers a large suite of tools that may be able to help:

• Evaluation: A solution for documenting every step of the staff evaluation process, including walk-throughs, self-evaluations, supporting evidence, reporting, and performance analytics, with a focus on a growth model for professional development.
• Pathways: A graduation tracking tool that enables administrators and counselors to create, track, and analyze graduation pathways, ensuring secondary students stay on track to graduate.
• TestHound: Our test accommodation software helps schools coordinate thousands of students across all state and local K-12 assessments while considering various accommodations, such as for reading disabilities, physical disabilities, and translations.