Why NC teachers left teaching last year

The annual report on teacher retention will be presented to the State Board this week.
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings/0812/tcp/0812tcp05.pdf

Turnover is up, over 13.5% even when adjusted for VIF (Visiting International Faculty). Note that secondary math and science as well as EC (exceptional children) and ESL (English as a second language) continue to top the chart of hard-to-staff positions, validating anything we can do to support the recruitment and retention in those areas.

LEAs with the highest turnover are concentrated in the eastern part of the state. Weldon City lost over 40% of their teachers this year.

At the end (pages 51-53) there is a report by Eric Hirsch who works with us in the Teachers’ Working Conditions (TWC) survey indicating the role of good working conditions in retaining teachers. Trust, mutual respect, minimization of paperwork, shielding of teachers from unnecessary disruptions, and strong mentors for new teachers are all strong in the systems experiencing highest teacher retention. Further validation for the need to treat teachers as professionals and the dire need for new teacher supports.