Educational Leaders: Retain Your Teachers With These Useful Strategies

Many teachers remain overwhelmed by their students’ needs years after the pandemic. Recent NAEP scores for 13 year olds show a decline of four points in reading and nine points in math since pre-COVID assessments. 

Due to teacher shortages, many educators have taken on additional responsibilities while feeling tired and frustrated by opportunity gaps, particularly in literacy learning. Even though teachers have worked diligently to accelerate learning to make up for lost instructional time, many are faced with widening opportunity gaps as seen through the increase of non-proficient readers. Educators need evidence-based resources and tools to close opportunity gaps without it being an additional heavy lift. And, they need administrative support to thrive. 

The Cost of Teacher Turnover

Teachers are leaving their schools at a higher rate than in years past. 

Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) indicates that between the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 school years, 16% of public school teachers either left the profession (8%) or moved to a different school (8%). A study analyzing teacher turnover from nine large urban and suburban school districts found that, on average, 23% of teachers left their schools during the 2022–2023 school year. 

Between October 2022 and October 2023, the teacher turnover rate in schools with the highest concentrations of students living in poverty was 29%, while it was 19% in schools with the lowest concentration of need. 

These figures suggest teacher turnover rates are higher in urban areas and schools serving lower-income communities compared to suburban schools. The financial and educational impacts of such turnover remain significant, underscoring the importance of effective teacher retention strategies.

The real costs of losing experienced teachers, and recruiting and retaining new teachers are more expensive than retaining experienced ones. The cost of replacing a teacher in 2024 ranged from $11,860 in small districts to $24,930 in large districts. Experienced teachers are highly valuable to school and district leaders because they know their school cultures and climates and their students well, and they have a high level of knowledge and experience about how their students learn best. However, teachers who report a lack of feeling supported by their leadership are more than twice as likely to leave the profession. 

How To Retain Your Best Literacy Teachers

Educators want to be part of a supportive school environment and feel their contributions are valued. Recent data indicates that while dissatisfaction with leadership remains a significant concern, other factors have also become prominent. For instance, a 2024 survey by the RAND Corporation identified managing student behavior, low salaries, and administrative tasks outside of teaching as top sources of job-related stress among teachers. 

Fortunately, there are ways administrators can demonstrate their support for teachers as professionals. Research reveals a positive school culture and job satisfaction are important factors for teachers to remain in the profession. Both of these elements start at the top, with strong leadership that benefits educators and students. Leaders who make positive school culture a priority may likely see better staff retention. One of the best ways to retain literacy teachers and close opportunity gaps is to help move teachers from surviving to thriving. With the right investments, they can feel supported within the profession. 

Empowering teachers and helping them feel confident and effective in their abilities results in improved academic outcomes for students. Here are specific ways to invest in your teachers and improve literacy outcomes: 

• Invest in districtwide professional learning based on the science of reading. Literacy teachers need a deep understanding of how to teach students to read based on the science of reading methodology. There is extensive research about how and why students need to learn to read with systematic and explicit instruction. When teachers receive high-quality professional learning, they report feeling more confident in their teaching, with students learning more effectively. 
• Provide evidence-based, flexible instructional strategies and high-value instructional materials based on the science of reading and engage students. Ninety-five percent of all students can learn to read proficiently if taught in a systematic and explicit manner, including Emergent Bilinguals and students with dyslexia. The vast opportunity gaps need to be addressed with evidence-based literacy programs that have demonstrated results. Investment in these programs yields long-term positive results. 
• Consider changing the school day to find time for teachers to collaborate with each other. Educators having time together inspires collegiality and helps teachers support each other. Creating a professional culture of trust and authenticity helps teachers feel valued as professionals. 
• Arrange schedules differently to make time for more direct instruction. Direct, explicit instruction is proven to lead to better literacy outcomes and improvements in opportunity gaps. 

Administrators who invest in their teachers through deep meaningful and sustained professional learning, and provide educators with evidence-proven teaching materials and resources, will be rewarded with more professionally satisfied teachers, improved academic outcomes, and greater retention of their staff.

If you want to learn more about equipping your teachers with the confidence to improve student achievement, read the blog Elevating Educational Leadership Potential With Professional Learning.