The Best Way to Retain New Teachers is to Invest in Their Professional Development
In the education sector, a perennial challenge that resonates across school districts and academic institutions worldwide is the attrition rate of new teachers. To ensure our students receive the best education possible, retaining these fresh faces and nourishing their growth is paramount.
Why Retain New Teachers?
It's statistically documented that about 50% of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years (1)(5). This exodus is not merely a matter of numbers but reflects a deeper issue. Each teacher that departs represents lost potential, missed opportunities, and a disruption to the learning environment. With turnover comes the inevitable cost of recruitment, training, and the time-consuming process of onboarding, a cycle that drains both financial and human resources.
Even worse, the continuity of education is jeopardized. Relationships built between educators and students, which are foundational to successful learning, are severed. When a student has to constantly adjust to new teaching styles or faces frequent changes in their educators, the stability needed for optimal learning is compromised.
The Role of Professional Development
Professional development is not merely a 'nice-to-have' but an essential investment in our educational ecosystem. Quality training does more than just impart knowledge; it signals to new teachers that they are valued assets. When educators feel supported and equipped with the tools they need, they're more likely to stay in the profession and thrive. According to a study by the Learning Policy Institute, supportive professional environments are among the top factors influencing a teacher’s decision to stay in a particular school or in the profession altogether (2). Another research piece posits that teachers who receive substantial coaching support are twice as likely to stay in teaching as those who do not (3).
The Cost of Not Investing in Retention
Beyond the immediate fiscal cost of recruiting and training new teachers, there’s a broader societal cost. Every year, the United States spends an estimated $2.2 billion on teacher turnover (4). This financial strain, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. Schools with high turnover rates often struggle to develop a strong, cohesive culture, which can hinder collaborative initiatives and stymie innovation. In districts with chronic teacher turnover, students often face the challenge of a revolving door of educators, with detrimental impacts on academic achievement and personal development.
To ensure the future of our educational institutions and the success of our students, focusing on the retention and training of new teachers should be non-negotiable. Investing in quality professional development isn't just about numbers; it's about nurturing the next generation of educators who will shape the minds of our future leaders, thinkers, and innovators.
At Edvative Learning, we recognize the critical importance of supporting and nurturing new teachers. Our New Teacher Empowerment Program is meticulously designed to provide the comprehensive training and mentorship that these educators deserve.
If you're as passionate as we are about empowering our next generation of educators and ensuring they have the tools, knowledge, and support to excel, we invite you to partner with us. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter educational future, fostering environments where teachers thrive, and students succeed. Reach out to us today, and let's discuss how our team can help you retain your newest teachers.
Footnotes
Ingersoll, R. M., & Smith, T. M. (2003). The wrong solution to the teacher shortage. Educational Leadership, 60(8), 30-33.
Darling-Hammond, L. (2017). Teacher professional learning and development. Learning Policy Institute.
Smith, T. M., & Ingersoll, R. M. (2004). What are the effects of induction and mentoring on beginning teacher turnover? American Educational Research Journal, 41(3), 681-714.
Barnes, G., Crowe, E., & Schaefer, B. (2007). The cost of teacher turnover in five school districts: A pilot study. National Commission on Teaching and America's Future.
Amitai, A., & Van Houtte, M. (2022). Being pushed out of the career: Former teachers' reasons for leaving the profession. Teaching and Teacher Education, 110, 103540.