Can You Keep Your Teachers During the Recession?

Last month I wrote about what I call the coming teacher recession. It is not only the teacher shortage that we need to be prepared for, but the Christian school must also be prepared to provide on the job training for second career teachers and teachers who have received no training in biblical/worldview integration.

The other aspect of the coming teacher recession is how to keep the quality teachers we have. It has been well documented that experienced teachers have been leaving the profession at a rate we have not seen for some time. A 2022 survey reported in Education Week this past fall found that 44% of current teachers said they are likely to leave the profession in the next two years. Why is this?

According to the Learning Policy Institute, teachers are leaving the profession because:

1. Inadequate Preparation - Beginning teachers with little to no preparation are 2 1/2 times more likely to leave the profession after one year.

2. Lack of Support for New Teachers - New teachers who are not mentored leave 2x's more than those who are mentored.

3. Challenging Work Conditions - Lack of administrative support and the lack of professional collaboration are often cited as reasons for leaving teaching.

4. Dissatisfaction with Compensation - Teachers make 20-30% less than other professions with similar college degrees.

5. Better Career Opportunities - 1 in 4 that leave teaching do so to pursue a career change.

6. Personal Reasons - 1 in 3 leave teaching for personal reasons like the need for childcare.

However, Dr. Don Kauffman’s (2010) research demonstrated that none of the six items listed above are the key to retaining teachers in the Christian school. He found that the most compelling reason for teachers in Christian schooling is a sense of calling to the ministry. The teachers in our schools understand that they are doing Kingdom work.

So, what can we do to improve teacher retention in Christian schools? First, we need to strategically keep the mission and calling of kingdom education in front of our teachers. They will be encouraged and motivated if we inspire them in the calling God has placed on their life. Then there are three suggestions made by the Learning Policy Institute (2022) that apply to Christian schools:

1. Improve teacher preparation and reduce costs to enter the profession.

2. Strengthen school practices and personnel management.

3. Provide quality mentoring and induction for beginning teachers.

Leverage Educational Services can help your school with teacher retention. We are prepared to help you inspire your teachers about their calling. We can also assist in training teachers, in both groups, and mentoring individuals. To find out how we can help your school contact me at 803-322-2798 or John.Furrow@leverageeducational.com. You can also visit our website at www.leverageeducational.com.