Teacher Shortage and Retention Toolkit

One of the many benefits of my job is that it affords me the opportunity to meet with thousands of educators every year. Two concerns heard at nearly every campus across the country are teacher shortages and teacher retention, and the folks at the Economic Policy Institute echo these concerns. According to their 2019 report, our nation’s teacher shortage is “real, large and growing, and worse than we thought.”

But if I know anything about educators, it’s that you’re a smart bunch and you don’t need a report to tell you what you already know. You feel these constraints every day. Those left to pick up the slack are facing a vicious cycle of burnout that places further strain on an already tense situation.

I’ll level with you: there are no easy answers. But at Edmentum, we do have some suggestions, built from the lessons we’ve learned from our work with more than 11,000 school districts and 5 million educators nationwide. We’ve listed a few of our favorite resources below. I hope this “greatest hits” toolkit can offer both practical help in addressing educator shortages and some useful strategies for holding on to your teachers.

Article: Six Ways Administrators Can Boost Teacher Retention

Administrators intent on building successful schools must demonstrate and reinforce positive self-care for teachers and staff. We share how to help new and veteran staff establish teams they can rely on to keep teacher retention rates up and increase student achievement.

Article: Seven Ways Administrators Can Address Staff Retention and Recruiting

One of the biggest factors contributing to the teacher shortage involves experienced teachers switching districts or leaving the profession altogether. As a result, administrators face high turnover and a steady stream of open positions. This post outlines steps that school and district administrators can take to increase teacher retention, lessen turnover impact on students, and prepare for successful recruiting.

Infographic: Every Student Has a Path with Edmentum Digital Curriculum

Partnerships with virtual schools are more than just convenient and cost-effective solutions to staffing challenges; they also create opportunities for a diverse range of learners. 

Edmentum Courseware and EdOptions Academy can help your district or school provide digital curriculum and virtual teachers to support all of your students, including those looking for expanded course options, more flexible learning environments, or career exploration resources. 

We share the stories of three potential student paths and tell how we can support their individual learning needs and goals.

You can download all the resources mentioned in the below infographic here.

Need more help with teacher shortages and retention? Edmentum works with over 11,000 districts around the country, helping to address their most difficult challenges, including teacher shortages and retention. Edmentum Courseware and EdOptions Academy may be just the solution you need to expand course choice and fill difficult teaching roles and retain them.

Originally published on EdSurge on July 23, 2019.

This post was originally published on the Edmentum blog August 2019 and has been updated.