Recruitment & Retention
Staff shortages. Grow-your-own programs. Turnover. Learn more about recruiting and retaining teachers and other school and district staff
The State of Teaching
New national data on the teaching profession, vivid reporting from classrooms, and resources to help support this essential profession.
- Recruitment & Retention Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Teacher Retention & Recruitment?Answer 7 questions about teacher retention and recruitment.Recruitment & Retention Webinar Keep Talented Teachers and Improve Student OutcomesKeep talented teachers and unlock student success with strategic planning based on insights from Apple Education and educational leaders.
Recruitment & Retention Q&A How These Principals Got Creative to Recruit STEM TeachersOne big tip is to recruit teachers you already have and help them make the switch to STEM.
Recruitment & Retention: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ways to recruit good teachers?
The ways that teachers find school jobs has changed in recent years. But recruitment hasn’t gone all virtual. According to a 2022 EdWeek Research Center survey of job seekers, only 5 percent said they find out about K-12 jobs through virtual job fairs. Many more job seekers find jobs by looking at district websites (54 percent), word of mouth (47 percent), and education-focused job websites (42 percent).
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
What qualities do principals look for when hiring teachers?
Many principals place the most weight on how a teacher will fit in with their school’s culture. That attribute was more valued by principals than whether the teacher’s certification aligned with their school’s needs, according to a 2022 survey by RAND.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal’s desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal’s desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
How can schools retain teachers?
Here is some advice on retaining teachers from Principal David Arencibia of Colleyville Middle School in Texas:
· Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
· Create a positive school culture.
· Celebrate your staff.
· Listen to your staff.
· Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
· Create a positive school culture.
· Celebrate your staff.
· Listen to your staff.
-
Recruitment & Retention Signing Ceremonies Honor Students Who Want to Be TeachersIn a growing number of schools across the country, student-athletes aren't the only ones in the spotlight. Future teachers are, too.
Recruitment & Retention Why Your Next Teacher Job Fair Probably Won't Be VirtualPost-pandemic, K-12 job fairs have largely pivoted to in-person events. But virtual fairs still have a place.
Recruitment & Retention How Effective Mentors Strengthen Teacher Recruitment and RetentionRudy Ruiz, founder of the Edifying Teachers network, shares advice on what quality mentorship entails for teachers of color.
Recruitment & Retention What the Research Says Some Positive Signs for the Teacher Pipeline, But It's Not All Good. What 3 Studies SayTeacher-prep enrollment is stabilizing, but school-level turnover is still high.
Recruitment & Retention The First Step to Hiring a Diverse School Staff: Believing It's PossibleDistrict leaders who want to prioritize diverse staffing need to search widely for new job candidates—and give them reasons to stay.Recruitment & Retention K-12 Essentials Forum Building a Diverse Staff to Improve Equity and Student OutcomesJoin this free virtual event to get up to speed on the pivotal role of diversity in K-12 education.
Recruitment & Retention Video How Workplace Culture Can Affect Staffing ShortagesA recruiter and a teacher share possible solutions to ongoing teaching shortages in schools.
Recruitment & Retention Letter to the Editor Teacher Housing Is a Critical Need in Native CommunitiesWe can't forget about Indian lands school districts when talking about teacher housing, says this letter to the editor.Recruitment & Retention Webinar Essential Strategies to Keep TeachersSponsorThis content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.Is teacher retention a puzzle in your school? Join our crucial discussion on coaching, support, & performance-based pay for sustainable solutions.Recruitment & Retention Webinar EdRecruiter 2024 Survey Results: Key Recruitment & Retention TrendsDiscover what attracts and repels K-12 job seekers. Get insights from EdWeek's nationwide EdRecruiter survey to strengthen your district’s recruitment and retention.
Recruitment & Retention Q&A What Will Teacher Shortages Look Like in 2024 and Beyond? A Researcher Weighs InTuan Nguyen has been collecting teacher-vacancy data for years now. He shares what he's learned so far and his forecast for future turnover.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion What Teachers of Color Say They Need MostTeachers of color face the same challenges as their white peers, in addition to others.
Recruitment & Retention Video How to Support Early-Career Teachers: Advice From Native EducatorsThey were new teachers fresh out of a graduate program to create a Native teacher pipeline. Today, neither is still in that position.
Recruitment & Retention 'Lesson Planning in the Laundry Room': What Housing for Teachers Looks LikeFrom converted schools and tiny houses, to shiny new complexes, districts have tackled new ideas to make sure their teachers can live nearby.
Recruitment & Retention How to Find—and Keep—a Diverse Team of TeachersPrincipals and district leaders believe diversifying the educator workforce is important—but recruitment and retention often prove tricky.
