Little Things Can Make a Lasting Impact on Teacher Retention

Teaching is hard work. It is rewarding, but it is hard work. The reality is that teaching has always been hard work. However, in the last few years, with so many more pieces of the puzzle added, it has become harder than ever. As a result, we have seen an increase in educators exploring opportunities in new districts or leaving the field of education all together. This has sparked conversations in districts on how to attract educators to open positions. A facet that is not lost but often does not have enough emphasis in these tough times, is retention. Energy put into retention of educators has a twofold impact. The first is simply that schools have less vacancies to fill. The second is schools and districts that have excellent retention rates are more attractive to candidates. As districts work to ensure higher retention rates, there are several things to keep in mind.

Be Intentional

The most important piece of the puzzle is to have a plan and then be intentional about the implementation of that plan. Although there are many ‘needs’ for educators, two have a lasting impact on retention: feeling valued and feeling cared about. It is no secret that people have an innate desire to feel valued and to be a part of something larger than themselves. The challenge for education leaders is being intentional about the activities that foster the feeling of value and teamwork. Principals are a front line when it comes to these two ideas and acting around them will advance retention efforts.

Be Authentic

Educators feel valued when their work is acknowledged, when their ideas are shared, and when they are shown appreciation for their efforts. Finding authentic praise moments throughout each week and letting staff know what they have done is great! Be intentional – create a log so you know you have had a touch with everyone. When you see something exceptional in a classroom, celebrate it! Get permission to share that idea or method with the whole staff. Remember, your teachers are your experts, and collectively they house a vast amount of knowledge and skills. Sharing success with the whole team touches on both concepts above!

Have Conversations

Leaders need to find time to have intentional conversations with their staff on what they need to be successful. Begin by having a conversation with them, on their terms, in their space. Do not make them come to yours. Be mindful of their time, schedule this conversation ahead of time, and keep it short. Ask leading questions like, “If I could take one thing off your plate, what would it be?” or "When you think about, ‘if only I could,’ what are you thinking about?” Asking the question is easy but being fully present can be difficult. Focus on making eye contact and actively listening instead of planning your next response, and certainly do not interrupt. Just listen. When they are finished, do not promise anything that cannot be delivered, and if necessary, ask a few clarifying questions.

Take Action

Undoubtedly, things will come up during your intentional conversations that you cannot change. However, by asking some guiding questions and actively listening, there will be some things you can address, even if in a small way. Once when I asked a teacher if there was anything I could do to make his day better, the response was, “I could really go for a warm donut.” Knowing that the teacher was struggling to keep his head above water, I tracked down a warm donut and had it in his hands shortly after our meeting. Even though the donut itself was trivial, the action showed the value I put on that teacher’s needs.

Final Thoughts

It's easy to assume that little things don’t provide great value, but I believe the little things have limitless value and make a lasting impact. Celebrating small successes frequently, providing a small reprieve when the time is right, or sharing a small token of appreciation will have a lasting impact on the teachers around you. Besides, celebrating others, making people smile, and helping teachers through things will surely make you feel better about your day as well!