The Staying Power of Stars: Addressing Teacher Retention in Urban, High-Poverty Schools

• In Event: Urban Education in the 21st Century

Abstract

The research team utilized qualitative methods to determine why effective teachers remained teaching (5 years and beyond) in an urban, high-poverty district. First, the Star Teacher Selection Interview was used to identify effective teachers, or stars. Second, verbal interviews were conducted with the subjects to determine factors that contributed to their retention in an urban high-poverty district. The results indicated that Job Satisfaction, Effectiveness with Urban Population, and Perseverance were the top indicators identified by the star teachers. The results also indicated that Teacher Preparation Programs could play a major role in urban teacher retention.

Authors

• Sueanne Elizabeth Mckinney, Old Dominion University

• Deana J. Ford, Mercer University

• Cynthia Tomovic, Old Dominion University