Hire, Train, & Retain Great Teachers
"The best ways to improve a school are hire better teachers or make the ones you have better. Great Principals do both!" - Dr. Todd Whitaker
Research demonstrates over and over that a great classroom teacher is the single greatest determinant of student academic success, followed by a great principal. We also know that students that are classified as "at-risk" need great teachers more than anyone. However, research from schools in turnaround across the United States shows that they often have the least experienced and least effective teachers, the highest percentage of lateral entry and initially licensed teachers, the lowest percentages of teachers with advanced degrees and National Board Certifications, the highest percentages of classrooms without a certified teacher, the highest teacher turnover rates, the highest absentee rates, and the least experienced and least effective principals. Most schools identified as being in "turnaround" or receiving state intervention for failing school composite scores, as measured by student achievement and accountability measures, are high-poverty schools. This is often a vicious cycle of educational poverty and harm that further extends the achievement gap without ever giving some students hope of being able to be on grade level with peers due to lack of educational opportunities for high-quality learning from highly-effective teachers and school administrators.
"A great classroom teacher is the single greatest determinant of student academic success."
America is Facing a Teacher Shortage
- A great classroom teacher is the most important factor to student success.
- The best two ways to improve a school is (1) hire great teachers and (2) make the teachers you have in your school better.
- The attrition rates of the most effective teachers ("Irreplaceables - Top 10-20%) is almost the same as highly ineffective teachers.
- Teachers don't fear change, they fear change without support.
- Great principals treat all teachers like their best teachers.
- Great principals recruit, hire, train, support, motivate, and retain great teachers!
Recruiting and Hiring Great Teachers
Recruiting Great Teachers
Here are a few tips to help you find the best teachers:
Market your school. Being willing and able to market your school means having the ability to share what’s happening inside the school building with businesses and outside partners—who in turn may have the ability (and willingness) to provide assistance and support the school may need. Great teachers want to be at great schools. Promote the wonderful things that are happening in classrooms, with parent groups, and within the community at your school. Post on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to appeal to any new teachers looking for a great school. See if your school can be featured in a local newspaper, weekly magazine, or other medium that may attract possible teacher candidates.
Create partnerships. Many colleges and universities offer teacher preparation programs. Often, college students need to complete practicum hours or an internship to graduate from the program. Allow these vibrant, enthusiastic student teachers to complete their work at your school and develop positive working relationships with program coordinators. Nurturing these kinds of relationships will help you attract new teachers who are looking for their first jobs.
Attend job fairs. Job fair events appeal to large numbers of prospective teachers. Reserve a space and set up a table with brochures, pictures, awards, and student crafts to show that your school is a superb place to work. Inviting current teachers to assist with mini-interviews also charms potential hires.
Hiring Great Teachers
To hire the right new teachers, carefully design a selection and hiring process using the following steps:
Put together a hiring committee. Send out invitations to staff who might be interested in joining the committee. Invite parents from your parent-teacher organization or similar group to participate in the process. While your participation in hiring will remain crucial, this team will be instrumental in streamlining the process and making sure your time is spent efficiently.
Review résumés closely. Look for essential qualifications and experience.
Schedule an initial interview with each candidate. Invite other classroom teachers and
stakeholders to participate.
Invite several candidates for a group interview. Give candidates a professional reading, and ask them to share their thoughts in response. Through group interactions, you’ll get snapshots of how your candidates would fit in with your existing team.
Schedule a shadowing. Candidates follow teachers to observe the classroom environment, the school’s culture and climate, and the instructional rigor.
Have each candidate submit a lesson plan. With your team, review the instructional plans. Then give feedback to the candidate. Ideally, you’ll deliver this feedback in person so you can observe a candidate’s reflection process.
Schedule a demonstration lesson. Have candidates teach their submitted instructional plans to a classroom of stude
“Great teachers have high expectations for their students, but even higher expectations for themselves.” - Todd Whitaker
Training and Supporting Great Teachers
“Great teachers focus on expectations. Other teachers focus on rules. The least effective teachers focus on the consequences of breaking the rules.” - Todd Whitaker
"America’s schools are losing too many of their best teachers." - TNTP Irreplaceables
Teacher Retention: return on Investment
“A recent management study revealed that 46% of employees leaving a company do so because they feel underappreciated; 61% said their bosses don’t place much importance on them as people, and 88% said they do not receive acknowledgement for the work they do.” - Jack Canfield
Three Main Causes of Current Retention Practices of “Irreplaceable” Teachers
Principals make far too little effort to retain "Irreplaceables" or remove low-performing teachers.
Poor school cultures and working conditions drive away great teachers.
Policies give principals and district leaders few incentives to change their ways.
To combat the real retention crisis and create the profession that teachers deserve, education leaders should make retention of “Irreplaceables” a top priority and strengthen the teaching profession with higher expectations.
5 Ways Principals Can Keep More “Irreplaceable” Teachers
Start the School Year With Great Expectations
The best teachers want clarity. Use meeting or orientation time at the start of the year to rally teachers around a clear and specific definition of excellent teaching and a set of goals for making the school a better place for learning. Then, with the teacher, set individual goals aligned to that vision. Tell teachers that you will observe them frequently and that you will be honest when they are falling short. Be clear that ineffective teaching is not an option
Recognize Excellence Publicly and Frequently
Don’t let success be a secret. Set aside 5 to 10 minutes in regular meetings to publicly celebrate teachers who have done exceptional work in the classroom or achieved a notable milestone with their students. Congratulate them and tie what they’re doing to the school’s goals and vision of great teaching. Don’t praise everyone every time; nothing demoralizes Irreplaceables more than false praise for mediocre or poor performance.
Treat Your Irreplaceables Like They Are Irreplaceables
Make it hard to leave your school. List the teachers who are most critical to your school’s academic success and spend time with them. Observe them at work and offer regular feedback. Get to know their interests and development needs, help them access resources, and give them opportunities to grow their careers and increase their impact. Invest them in the school by involving them in decision-making, and make sure other school leaders treat them well, too.
Start Having “Stay” Conversations by Thanksgiving
Many teachers use the winter holidays to think about what’s next. Block off time after Thanksgiving to talk to your Irreplaceables and rising-star teachers about continuing to teach at the school next year. Tell them that they are irreplaceable and how much you want them to return. Ask them about their own interests and concerns, and if they are considering other options, ask what you can do to convince them to stay
Hold the Line on Good Teaching
Schools that refuse to tolerate poor teaching keep more of their top teachers. Inevitably, some teachers will struggle, despite good intentions and hard work. Be honest with them about their weaknesses, give them regular feedback and support, and set reasonable limits on how long they have to show significant improvement (months, not years). Make sure they don’t get mixed messages from other school administrators or coaches. However difficult it may be, do not allow unsuccessful teachers to linger.
"Top teachers who experience multiple high impact retention strategies plan to remain teaching at their schools for nearly twice as long (2 to 6 more years)." - TNTP "Irreplaceables"
