Recruitment & Retention
Staff shortages. Grow-your-own programs. Turnover. Learn more about recruiting and retaining teachers and other school and district staff
Staffing Our Schools
Why schools are struggling to recruit and retain staff and how education leaders can start to solve the problem.
- Recruitment & Retention K-12 Essentials Forum Building a Diverse Staff to Drive Student SuccessJoin 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: 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 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 Gen Z Lacks Job-Readiness Skills, Survey ShowsProspective employers say Gen Z'ers aren't job ready. Here's what's behind it, and how to adapt.
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.
Special Report Strategies for Building a Diverse StaffDelve into the link between diverse staff and students’ academic performance and explore strategies to recruit and retain diverse staff.
Recruitment & Retention The Role Mentors and School Leaders Play in Retaining Teachers of ColorBeyond higher pay, experts share key factors that can keep teachers of color in the profession and even at a given school.
Recruitment & Retention From Our Research Center Districts' Strategies to Diversify Teaching Staff, in ChartsNew EdWeek Research Center survey data highlights how districts plan to recruit and retain more teachers of color.
Recruitment & Retention Athletic Trainers Are Often Missing From the Sidelines in School SportsAdvocates say athletic trainers are in short supply, despite efforts to require schools to keep them on hand.
Recruitment & Retention This State Is Giving New Teachers Up to $20K to Stay on the Job. But There’s a CatchOklahoma's scholarship program is designed to keep fully trained teachers on the job longer.
Recruitment & Retention What Slogan Would You Use to Recruit Teachers? Educators Weigh InThe U.S. Department of Education has called its campaign 'Teachers: Leaders Shaping Lives.' How do EdWeek readers' slogans compare?
Recruitment & Retention More Districts Are Building Housing for Teachers. Here's What to KnowThe recruitment and retention strategy is gaining in popularity, but districts must consider financing, time, and affordability.
