Keeping Quality Teachers: The Art of Retaining General and Special Education Teachers

Author: Northeast Regional Resource Center, Learning Innovations at WestEd
Publisher: WestEd, OSEP, NCPSE, NASDSE, Syracuse University, & NY State Ed Dept
Publication Date: 2004, November
Full text available online at: http://www.wested.org/nerrc/Acrobat%20Files/KeepingQualityTeachersIntro.pdf

Abstract (written by Author/Publisher)

This user-friendly tool for retaining quality teachers — especially those in special education — contains a framework for action that can be used to create a plan at the school or district levels, or to strengthen existing plans. Target audiences include state and local administrators for general and special education, including superintendents, curriculum coordinators, principals, special education coordinators, and leaders of personnel development and professional development. Organized into six sections, this document provides research to assist stakeholders in understanding why retention is such a compelling issue; focuses on the improvement of working conditions; provides strategies for administrative support at the district and building levels; emphasizes the importance of induction and mentoring programs as part of a retention initiative, providing several model programs and strategies; articulates the key role played by institutions of higher education in supporting recruitment and retention; and provides implementation and evaluation suggestions for states and local school districts. Each section includes resources and references.

The Table of Contents includes:

• Introduction
  
• Chapter 1: Making the Case for Teacher Retention
  
• Chapter 2: Building a Framework: Improving Working Conditions
  
• Chapter 3: The Role of the Administrator
  
• Chapter 4: Induction and Mentoring Programs that Work
  
• Chapter 5: Promoting Linkages - Partnerships between Schools and Higher Education
  
• Chapter 6: Bringing it Together (Appendix)
  • Teacher Retention Additional Models