Thirty to 50% of new teachers in the U.S. leave the profession within the first three years. Of those teachers who left the profession, 60% cite poor working environments and lack of administrative support as the major reasons for leaving.
In all of the educational reform in progress across the country – leading to student learning standards and teaching standards, we’ve got to ask, “Why aren't our decision makers looking at school standards?” Especially, with 60% of our teachers are leaving the profession because of their working environments.
You may be questioning what these school standards would look like, if they were in place, how they would lead to school improvement? And, is there a relationship between teachers leaving the profession because of a poor working environment, creating school standards for the working environment and school improvement – which is about maximizing student achievement?
School standards would guarantee that teachers (and other school-site staff) would receive specific school-site information, day-to-day routine information to support them and their teaching, regardless of the school, grade-level or subject taught.
By creating a supportive and good working environment teachers will stay in the profession. There is a direct correlation between the length of time a teacher has been in the profession and student achievement; the longer a teacher has been teaching the higher their students’ achievement. It is complex and all connected.
School standards for the working environment will keep teachers in the profession; will allow them to place most of their energy into their teaching and students’ learning, which would lead to enhanced student achievement and… school improvement.
The Link to Teachers' Success...
Dr. Kathleen Salzano, Ed.D.
