How to Retain Teachers

Retaining teachers is a major challenge for many schools, especially high schools. Besides ensuring the quality of education is top-notch, keeping skilled teachers is important for maintaining a stable learning space where students can thrive. 

When teachers leave their schools or professions, it negatively affects learning and student success and increases school costs. Schools that use the right methods are more likely to retain more teachers.

Why Teacher Retention Matters

When experienced teachers stay in their roles, schools gain several benefits, including:

Consistency and Stability

Long-term teachers have a deep understanding of their students’ needs and strengths, so they can provide tailored support. In this type of setting, students are more likely to feel understood on a deeper level, and teachers feel confident that they’re offering the right kind of support.

Cost Savings

Recruiting and training new teachers is expensive, with replacement costs reaching thousands of dollars, depending on whether the school is in a rural area or a city. When schools hold onto teachers, they can save money and spend more on classroom supplies, better facilities, and technology.

Support for Students Who Need It Most

Schools in low-income communities often see more teachers leave, which impacts students who have fewer resources and those with special education needs. Schools that strive to keep their teachers can make sure these students receive consistent support.

Stronger Policy and Improvement Efforts

Frequent turnover makes it harder for schools to implement lasting changes and develop effective policies. Studies show that when experienced teachers leave, schools lose important knowledge, making it tougher to keep things steady or make lasting changes. On the other hand, having stable staff allows improvements to take root and grow.

Preserved Knowledge and Experience

Teachers with experience understand their school's needs and can offer helpful advice that suits the school’s specific goals. Schools can boost teaching and make sure students do well over time by keeping their best teachers.

Why Do Teachers Leave?

A 2022 survey by the National Education Association (NEA) shows that over 50% of teachers plan to leave their schools—and the profession—sooner than they expected. The survey points to several reasons why teachers leave, including:

• Burnout: Around 90% of teachers say they are dealing with high levels of burnout.
• Low Pay: 78% consider low pay a serious issue.
• Stress: General stress from the job affects many, especially with increased workloads and challenges.
• Lack of Respect: 44% of teachers cite a lack of respect from the public and parents as a serious concern.

5 Effective Tips on How to Retain Teachers

Schools looking to retain more teachers should adopt approaches that support the needs and well-being of their teachers. Here are five effective methods to apply:

1. Provide Chances for Professional Development

Teachers love teaching and want to learn and grow. Many want to make a difference for their students, and they can do this more effectively when they have opportunities to learn and improve.

Some ways schools can provide opportunities for professional development include:

• Workshops: Create regular spaces for teachers to connect, exchange ideas, and see effective strategies in action. This approach will encourage teachers to feel involved and see themselves as part of a team.
• Training: Offer targeted training sessions that match teachers’ needs and growth areas. This allows teachers to get the exact resources and support they need to excel.
• Leadership programs: Provide paths for experienced teachers to advance and lead, such as mentorship roles. Doing this allows teachers to grow in their careers without leaving the classroom.

2. Offer Fair Compensation and Benefits

Keeping great teachers starts with fair pay and benefits that match their hard work. Teachers put in a lot of effort, and they should get paid what they’re worth. When schools make sure teachers are paid well, it helps them feel valued and supported, which makes it easier for them to stay in the classroom. Schools can support this by:

• Regularly Reviewing Salaries: Keeping pay competitive can affect teachers' attitudes toward their roles. Schools should monitor local salary trends to ensure that their teachers feel valued and fairly compensated.
• Offering Performance-Based Incentives: Rewarding teachers who go above and beyond with bonuses or extra pay can boost morale and show appreciation for their impact on students.
• Providing Strong Benefits: Beyond salary, benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave are important. Some schools even offer extra perks, like housing stipends, which can relieve financial stress and make teaching feel more sustainable.

3. Ask Teachers for Their Opinions and Involve Them in Decision-Making

Teachers want their voices to be heard and their opinions valued, especially on matters that affect their classrooms. Regularly asking for their opinions through surveys, group discussions, or casual chats can give helpful ideas and let them know that their opinions matter.

To get more honest opinions, schools should consider using anonymous surveys to learn about teachers’ everyday experiences or arranging monthly meetings to discuss specific topics in more detail. Feedback on curriculum changes, classroom resources, or policies about student behavior can directly inform school decisions, making teachers feel more connected to the process.

Teachers are likely to feel heard when they are involved in decisions that impact the school at large. To practice this, schools can invite teachers to participate in board meetings so they can share their ideas and suggest solutions from their own experiences.

When teachers feel they can help shape school policies, they are more likely to stay dedicated to the school’s long-term goals.

4. Encourage Collaboration

Teaching shouldn’t be an isolated experience—when teachers work together and share ideas, they have the chance to learn from each other and feel more motivated and supported. 

Schools can encourage teamwork by organizing regular meetings for teachers to brainstorm ways to improve. For example, teachers could meet weekly to share what’s working in their classrooms or discuss new teaching methods.

Schools can also create “peer observation” opportunities, where teachers visit each other’s classrooms to observe teaching techniques, gain inspiration, and offer constructive feedback.

5. Implement Mentorship Programs

Pairing new teachers with experienced mentors is one of the most effective ways to support them early in their careers and can help keep them in the profession.

Having a mentor gives new teachers important support, helping them deal with problems and grow more confident in their early years. Teachers who have mentors feel more supported and connected to the school community, which increases their chances of staying in the profession for the long term.

Conclusion

To retain teachers, schools need to adopt approaches that cover important areas of support, such as fair compensation, professional growth opportunities, and meaningful recognition. When these are in place, teachers feel valued and motivated to stay, and this directly benefits student success through stable and experienced teaching teams.

Schools looking to get additional support should consider using tools like Evaluation—our educational software designed to track and strengthen teacher performance. When used effectively, this software promotes retention through data-driven insights and efficient administrative support.

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.
• 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.