When there's a revolving door of staff members in a school or district, leaders have three choices: leave, survive, or thrive. District administrator Elizabeth Dampf says it's possible to thrive despite--or even because of--high rates of turnover. If you want more out of this period in education, take a few cues from Dampf's "playbook of…

New research shows where we've made progress and what still needs work, especially to retain educators of color. Richard Ingersoll and his team of researchers analyze the best national data to uncover what trends and changes have occurred in the diversity of the K-12 teaching force over time. Their five findings reveal some interesting facts. [A…

Susan Moore Johnson, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and leading scholar on school staffing, highlights research from the Project on the Next Generation of Teachers showing the importance of inclusive leadership and team-based structures in improving teacher recruitment and retention. School context is key in determining…

In the face of yet another crisis in teaching, it's time for a bold and comprehensive plan to revitalize and better support the profession. Education expert Linda Darling-Hammond explains how the current shortage of teachers is not entirely new, but the result of decades of cutting programs, lack of respect for the profession and poor working…

The impact of accountability on U.S. schools, for good or ill, is a subject of debate and research. The authors recently studied an aspect of accountability that had previously received little attention. They asked, do accountability reforms affect public schools' ability to retain their teachers? By analyzing data from the Schools and Staffing…

Improved teacher morale and improved learning for all students go hand in hand. But what, exactly, do we mean by student learning? And what is the aim of this learning? According to Nel Noddings, the success of our efforts to boost teacher morale through greater collegiality, creativity, and continuity will depend on how we answer these questions.…

Analyzing long-term demographic data from the Schools and Staffing Survey, Ingersoll and Merrill found a number of intriguing trends in the teaching force that they say "appear to have been little noticed by researchers, policymakers, and the public." The number of teachers, they write, is growing at a rate that far outpaces increases in student…

Describes elements and benefits of a teacher wellness program at Miami Country Day, a large, independent K-12 school in Miami, Florida. (PKP)

Examines the on-the-job learning needs of beginning teachers. Discusses research on teacher learning curve and enculturation process. Describes elements of a quality beginning-teacher induction program that involves mentoring and the use of standards. Views induction as an enculturation process. (Contains 11 references.) (PKP)

Interviews with 12 experienced, exemplary teachers in western North Carolina examines why they have stayed in teaching. Finds several common characteristics, including need for intellectual stimulation, positive feedback from students, deep sense of purpose, and strong needs for autonomy. Draws implications for teacher attrition and retention…

Organization stability can be deeply affected when leadership changes. Frequent leadership turnover is to be expected, though it interferes with project timetables and can drastically disrupt progress. This article offers practical advice for managing leadership transitions effectively. (three references) (MLH)

Although lack of professional support is usually cited as one of the main reasons for the high attrition rate among new teachers, evidence shows that even when such support is available teachers continue to leave the profession. Meanwhile, it is the lack of attention to the personal needs of the novice teachers that leads to frustration and it is…

Four-year study of the career paths of 50 beginning teachers in Massachusetts focuses on why 8 of these teachers ("Voluntary Movers") transferred from original schools to other public schools. Reasons given for transferring include reasonable assignments, stable working environments, opportunities to learn and grow, and accessible,…

Asserts that many beginning teachers leave teaching because they are overwhelmed by the duties and responsibilities of experienced teachers who often adopt a "sink or swim" attitude toward classroom novices. Offers advice on how to reduce new-teacher attrition with comprehensive induction and mentoring program. (PKP)

The new teacher attrition rate in the US schools continues to cause concern, and disconnect between the goals of new teachers and of those who shape public education is one important reason behind this problem. Suggestions are presented on how to let teachers connect meaningfully with their students thus giving these professionals the support they…