Knowledge From the Field

Shooting for Stars: Cross-Sector Lessons for Retaining High-Performing Educators

Published: June 2010

Publisher(s): Public Impact

Author(s): Ableidinger, Joe; Julie Kowal

Funder(s): Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Joyce Foundation

View Report (26 pages; 590KB; PDF)

Shooting for Stars: Cross-Sector Lessons for Retaining High-Performing Educators

Area of focus: Teacher Quality and Leadership

Abstract

This report identifies four common strategies employed by various sectors to retain high performers. It looks at ways that committed education leaders can apply these strategies in schools to retain larger percentages of high performing teachers.

Key Findings and/or Recommendations

+Competitive pay and timely raises make it more likely high performers will stay

+Promotions and new opportunities boost retention of high performers

+New roles and challenges are valued by high performers, even ones that do not involve linear advancement

+Building teams of high performers improves performance and lowers turnover

Geographic Focus: National

Subjects/Keywords: Teacher retention; strategies for reform; teacher improvement; teacher effectiveness; high performing teachers; high performers

+ Successful strategy
= Observation
– Challenge