Autonomy, Professional Respect and Wellness- How to Retain Teachers

Source: Sarofian-Butin. (2023, May 15). Is Teacher Morale on the Rise? Results of the Second Annual Merrimack College Teacher Survey. Products. https://www.edweek.org/products/whitepaper/is-teacher-morale-on-the-rise-results-of-the-second-annual-merrimack-college-teacher-survey

LEARN Brief and Infographic Credits: Dr. Jeannie Haubert, Ashlea Sovetts, MFA

Overview: 

Merrimack College has conducted a multi-year survey to tap teacher voices and better understand the current teacher recruitment and retention crises affecting K-12. Their systematic survey of nearly 1,200 teachers provides reliable insights that can help administrators solve this problem. 

Advice for current and aspiring administrators is simple, straightforward, and clearly supported by the data: Teachers need to feel heard, and they need responses to their concerns to be genuine and sustained. Do teachers need pay increases? Of course, particularly with recent increases in costs of living, but that falls short of addressing the deeper issues.  The data clearly suggests other systemic enhancements that teachers consider critical.

Key Insights:  Overall teachers report feeling overworked, underpaid, and disrespected by the general public and this is taking a mental health toll.

Action Steps: 

1. Invest in systemic mental health & wellness programs for teachers.
2. Involve teachers in decision-making (scheduling, duties, school policies, etc.)
3. Acknowledge that teachers are highly trained professionals and promote this internally and externally in policy and practice.

Full Study: https://www.edweek.org/products/whitepaper/is-teacher-morale-on-the-rise-results-of-the-second-annual-merrimack-college-teacher-survey