It seems that everywhere I go in education circles talk eventually turns to how to recruit and retain the "best and the brightest". This is a conversation for which I have been anxious to offer my thoughts. Thankfully, most of the folks leading these conversations are interested in listening to teachers. Naturally, teachers are excited to give our feedback; however, we are hesitant as well. Too often, our suggestions and concerns are taken down and then filed away and never addressed. Often we are told that our suggestions aren't feasible in the current budget. Or, worse yet, we are made to feel guilty because we asked for something for ourselves.
This teacher wants to offer a few suggestions. I realize some of them are not feasible in our current monetary state, but I also know that there are plenty of intelligent, creative folks in power who could make some of these, if not all, a reality. These ideas are in no particular order.
Competitive Pay
Introduce a competitive pay scale based on multiple factors. Currently, our system awards raises based on years of experience and degrees earned. If a teacher wants to earn more money, they must go back to school (for which they pay for out of their own pocket), take on a supplemental duty to earn extra money or wait for the next school year. Why not award raises based upon extra duties not traditionally compensated--committee chairs, curriculum coach, student mentoring? Why not give bonuses for great performance evaluations and documented student growth? How about extra pay for those who not only work with, but are successful with special populations of students (talented and gifted, students with special needs, students with severe behavior issues, students who are behind their peers, etc.)?
Other Means of Compensation
Along with the competitive pay scale, I would love for us to think about other ways to compensate teachers. The majority of us who have children must pay for childcare. Why not offer a voucher for a certain dollar amount towards childcare each year? Better yet, why can't childcare be free for those of us who use the school system's after-school programs.
Likewise, teachers spend on average $450 a year on supplies for their classroom. These supplies almost always go into the hands of students --tissues, pencils, paper, curriclum guides, and journals. Sure, we get a tax write-off. However, the max is $250 a year. Imagine how much it costs a first-year teacher to set up their classroom. Give teachers a stipend each year to purchase supplies.
Further, teachers would like to participate in professional development without having to front the cost partially or entirely. Several years ago, I was asked to attend a national conference. The total cost was around $4,000. I had to pay for everything up front. I was eventually reimbursed, but it came almost three months after the conference was over and I did not receive the full amount I paid for the trip. Thankfully, I had the funds to cover the cost until I was reimbursed, but not many teachers can do this.
The professional development budget in our state has dwindled to almost nothing over the last several years for our schools. Teachers need to participate in conferences internationally, nationally, and at the state level to keep up with the ever-changing field of teaching. Likewise, teachers need to keep up with certifications like Advanced Placement. With current funding, my school can pay for 1-2 teachers this year to attend a training or conference. That isn't a lot when we have close to 125 teachers in our building. We need to invest in our teachers and that means increasing the professional development funds.
Also, why not pay for teachers to earn their masters degrees or National Board Certification. Better yet, allow teachers to use the National Board Certification process in place of a Masters degree. The NBC process was vigorous and valueable. More so than my masters degree in education was. (I am anxiously awaiting my results this fall.)
Celebrate More--Bash Less
It is hard to convince someone to enter this profession when there is such negativity in the public. I realize that "Schools Failing Our Students" is a more striking headline than "Teacher Finds Creative Way to Help Students Who Struggle", but we need to start celebrating the pockets of greatness in those struggling schools. Those teachers--the dream changers--are showing up and doing amazing things every day. Why isn't that in the news?
There is a school in my district that fights a negative image every day. Many years ago they were labeled "failing" in the newspaper based on criteria that was not fully explained to the public. They have had to fight that image ever since. Do they have problems? Sure. So do the rest of our schools. If we stopped bashing them and celebrated the teachers and students who are successful there, I believe that school would be at the top of the district. Manuel Scott, one of the original Freedom Writers, said that "sometimes you need to believe in someone who believes in you". Our profession needs the public to believe in, join, hold accountable and support teachers.
I have lots of other ideas, but I want to hear your suggestions. What do you think we need to do to recruit and retain amazing teachers?
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