The "Great Resignation" represented a missed opportunity for women in education—or, rather, a missed opportunity for the education system to promote more female leaders to the superintendency.
"Putting politicians in charge of the classroom is dangerous," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said during a special address on Monday declaring a state of emergency for public education.
Hourly workers—bus drivers, custodians, substitute teachers—are the backbone of K12 schools. One of the most important ways administrators can retain them is by providing consistent, accurate and timely pay.
Low pay and heavy workloads may be the leading drags on teacher job satisfaction but principals, superintendents and other administrators can also help educators find ways to improve their outlooks by, for instance, sending a short letter of gratitude to a colleague.
The mounting challenges principals face are producing some conflicting numbers: While 94% are generally satisfied with their job, half say stress is so high they might just change careers or retire.
A quarter of Missouri school districts have already jumped on board in an effort to attract new staff. In Texas, the model's popularity has also grown significantly as teacher satisfaction continues to be a point of concern.
While 66% of leaders say salary was key for teacher morale, 69% think reimagining classrooms and instruction is also essential, according to a new survey from learning company D2L and District Administration.
Only one in five teachers disagreed with the statement "I am happy in my current position," according to a SchoolCEO survey of about 1,000 educators in 300 districts.
Better pay, community support and empathy from district leadership are among the main changes teachers say they require in order to stay in the profession.
