Addressing the Talent Problem: Recruiting and Retaining Effective Educators for All Schools

Teachers and visionary school leaders who root themselves in their education communities can have a powerful impact on students learning, yet many states and districts report that they lose more than 50 percent of teachers in their first two to three years in the classroom. Staff turnover at these levels can drastically impede educational progress, especially in the nation's highest needs schools. 

Join the AIR and WestEd for a special panel discussion, where education practitioners and experts will showcase effective talent retention strategies linked to rapid school improvement, as well as overview strategies that federal policymakers can authorize and fund under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The event features:

  • Dana Chambers, Principal Technical Assistance Consultant, AIR
  • Dr. Monique Chism, Vice President for Policy, Practice, and Systems Change, AIR
  • Doug Clauschee, Associate Superintendent, Chinle Unified School District (Arizona)
  • Dr. Teni Helmberger, Director of School Programs, Kokomo School Corporation (Indiana)
  • Dr. Chris Kates, Director of Leadership and Innovation, Indiana Department of Education
  • Steve Larson, Director, Educator and School Excellence Division, Arizona Department of Education
  • Dr. Carlas McCauley, Director of the Center on School Turnaround, WestEd
  • Mary Peterson, Senior Program Associate, Policy Center, WestEd

Panelists will address the following topics:

  • The critical challenges states and districts are facing with retention, and the direct connection between retention and student outcomes.
  • Actionable strategies that federal policymakers can authorize and fund under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
  • Lessons learned from educators who successfully led talent management initiatives, and who scaled efforts at the state, district, and school level.
  • Strategies to attract, prepare, and retain talented educators, informed by data and continuous improvement principles.

Space is limited. For general questions about the event, please contact Natalie Coupe at ncoupe@air.org.

Follow the conversation on Twitter with @Education_AIR using the hashtag #EducatorRetention.