Teaching Quality and Teacher Retention: Stories of Hope and Change

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Nontraditional Approaches to Teacher Education

Abstract

Teacher turnover is a disease in the US, but is rarely discussed in the context of teacher professional learning and quality of teaching. In these case studies of participants in a Fellowship program focused on core practices, equity, leadership development, and professional community we tie these ideas together. Fellowship participants come as teams from schools with high teacher turnover serving low-income families. Our findings show high uptake of core practices, clarity of equity stance, growing leadership roles, and strong professional communities. Across the Fellowship 90% of participants stay in teaching for at least two years after the program. These case studies unpack the stories behind the increased retention and point to greater quality of teaching.

Authors

• Liam Aiello, University of California - Davis

• Tammy Wu Moriarty, University of San Diego

• Janet Carlson, Stanford University