Best Teacher-Retention Practice? Autonomy

(from Getting Smart) May is teacher appreciation month and a time when many teachers begin to pack up and leave a school for good. Often teachers who leave a school do so not because they don't enjoy teaching but because they don't feel supported and challenged in positive ways. Perhaps the best way to appreciate teachers is to give them autonomy — a strong sense of freedom, trust and control over their destiny, in ways that support their professionalism. Nobody likes to be micro-managed, especially teachers.

Other ways to help teachers feel appreciated:

• Create a culture of teacher support and appreciation.
• Allow them flexibility in their own learning as well as how they teach.
• Share your appreciation electronically — emails and texts as well as social media to recognize outstanding work.
• Challenge students to recognize their teachers.

More at Getting Smart

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