Reinvigorating the Teaching Profession: The Policies to Consider to Retain and Recruit Teachers

Throughout North America, we are facing an unprecedented teacher and support staff shortage. Several states across the U.S. are facing a deficit of 5000 or more teachers throughout their state. As a result, we see states scrambling to fill positions, which in many cases, caused policymakers to pass laws and policies to erode the needed educational qualifications to become a teacher. In some cases, a completed degree nor a credential in the process would be required for a teacher to take the helm of the classroom. This is alarming!

Ultimately, this is an existential crisis that needs major policy change. In my opinion, it is a national security crisis that will only get worse unless major policy action is taken at the state and local levels. Therefore, states, districts, and schools have a variety of opportunities that are small and big policy actions they can take to retain and recruit future teachers. Provided below are ideas that can be further researched and discussed regarding their implementation. States, schools, and districts do not need to focus on all of these suggestions. Rather, taking two to three from the retaining and recruiting categories is realistic for the short term with the hope for more in the future. Last, each local school, state, and district are different, which also reinforces that this is a list that can be best utilized to brainstorm and use where best applicable for your local municipality.

Retaining Teachers

• Increase Instructional Autonomy, Planning and Prep Time, and Teacher Collaboration
• Move to a Four Day School Week with an Asynchronous Fifth Day
• Increased Opportunities to Receive Mental Health Support (for free)
• Increased Pay Opportunities on the Payscale and Beyond the Payscale
• Create Multiple Entry Points for PD and Growth with a Focus on Coaching and Mentoring
• Provide Ongoing Mentoring, Coaching, and Community Growth Opportunities
• Offer Housing Subsidies and Federal and State Income Tax-Free Salary
• Create State Accountability Indicators for Positive School Climates for Both Teachers and Students
• Lower class sizes
• Hire support staff and more than enough subs
• Community and national respect for the profession – patriotism

Recruiting Teachers

• Tuition-Free University Education Degrees and Credentials
• Solidified Partnerships Between Districts and Local Colleges/Universities
• Create Multiple Entry Points for PD and Growth with a Focus on Coaching and Mentoring
• Provide Ongoing Mentoring and Community Growth Opportunities
• Increased Pay Opportunities on the Payscale and Beyond the Payscale
• Salary Income Tax-Free
• Offer Housing Subsidies and Income Tax-Free Salary
• Lower class sizes
• Give new teachers easier assignments to start their career
• Hire support staff and more than enough subs
• Community and national respect for teacher – patriotism

Conclusion – Policies Must Change

These are only several policies that can be passed at the state and local level, which may have an opportunity to positively affect the retention and recruitment of teachers. You may notice many of these policies within each category of teacher retention and recruitment overlap. This is because much of the research on the retention and recruitment of teachers overlap significantly. With an emphasis on positive working environments, a manageable workload, mentorship/coaching, and opportunities for career growth and pay increases. All of these areas are key to implementing policies that will help mitigate the teacher shortage crisis that will continue to be ongoing until major policy actions are taken at the state and local levels.

Beyond these suggestions, what are your suggestions in terms of policies that can be passed at the state and local levels that can help positively affect the recruitment and retention of teachers?

Additionally, mentorship, coaching, and building new teachers up, are key as well. Our latest book, Crush it from the Start: 50 Tips for New Teachers covers this and more with helpful tips, conversations, and activities to put learning into action to help new and experienced teachers create sustainable, effective, and enjoyable careers of positive impact!