Recruitment & Retention
Staff shortages. Grow-your-own programs. Turnover. Learn more about recruiting and retaining teachers and other school and district staff
The State of Teaching
New national data on the teaching profession, vivid reporting from classrooms, and resources to help support this essential profession.
- Recruitment & Retention Webinar EdRecruiter 2025 Survey Results: The Outlook for Recruitment and RetentionSee exclusive findings from EdWeek’s nationwide survey of K-12 job seekers and district HR professionals on recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion There’s a Stunning Oversight in CTE: Careers in EducationTeachers are a core part of our workforce—but you wouldn’t know it to look at CTE programs. School leaders must start growing their own.Recruitment & Retention Webinar Substitute Teacher Staffing Simplified: 5 Strategies for SuccessSponsorThis content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.Struggling to find quality substitute teachers? Join our webinar to learn key strategies to keep your classrooms covered and students learning.
Recruitment & Retention: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ways to recruit good teachers?
The ways that teachers find school jobs has changed in recent years. But recruitment hasn’t gone all virtual. According to a 2022 EdWeek Research Center survey of job seekers, only 5 percent said they find out about K-12 jobs through virtual job fairs. Many more job seekers find jobs by looking at district websites (54 percent), word of mouth (47 percent), and education-focused job websites (42 percent).
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
What qualities do principals look for when hiring teachers?
Many principals place the most weight on how a teacher will fit in with their school’s culture. That attribute was more valued by principals than whether the teacher’s certification aligned with their school’s needs, according to a 2022 survey by RAND.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal’s desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal’s desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
How can schools retain teachers?
Here is some advice on retaining teachers from Principal David Arencibia of Colleyville Middle School in Texas:
· Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
· Create a positive school culture.
· Celebrate your staff.
· Listen to your staff.
· Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
· Create a positive school culture.
· Celebrate your staff.
· Listen to your staff.
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Recruitment & Retention Explainer 4 Things to Know About the Messy Landscape of Grow-Your-Own Teacher PrepFrom residencies and apprenticeships to disparate grow-your-own programs, locally focused teacher preparation is in flux.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion Want to Retain Teachers? Here's What Districts and Schools Can DoSevere teacher shortages persist. Educators suggest what schools and districts can do to fill those posts.
Recruitment & Retention Video Recruiting and Retaining STEM Teachers: A Former White House Adviser's TakeA retired teacher and former White House policy adviser has some ideas for schools leaders looking to recruit and retain in STEM.
Recruitment & Retention Schools Have Fewer Teacher Vacancies This Year. But Hiring Is Still Not EasySchools struggled less to fill teaching positions in the 2024-25 school year, but they still started the year with vacant teaching spots.
Recruitment & Retention Q&A Schools Can't Find Enough Teachers. A New Federal Center Aims to HelpThe U.S. Department of Education's research agency has launched a new center focused on improving teacher staffing and retention.Recruitment & Retention Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Teacher Retention & Recruitment?Answer 7 questions about teacher retention and recruitment.Recruitment & Retention Webinar Keep Talented Teachers and Improve Student OutcomesKeep talented teachers and unlock student success with strategic planning based on insights from Apple Education and educational leaders.
Recruitment & Retention Q&A How These Principals Got Creative to Recruit STEM TeachersOne big tip is to recruit teachers you already have and help them make the switch to STEM.Recruitment & Retention Whitepaper Running an Effective Substitute Teacher ProgramSponsorThis content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.In this guide, discover best practices to strengthen your district’s substitute teacher pipeline, improve fill rates, and save time and m...
Recruitment & Retention Q&A How This District Lowered Its Teacher Vacancy Rate to Almost ZeroKnox County schools in Tennessee has a multifaceted strategy to hire and retain more teachers.
Recruitment & Retention Schools Have Their Work Cut Out to Get STEM Teachers. Here's How to Do ItSchools can be creative about using current staff and partnerships with businesses to provide STEM learning.
Special Report STEM Teachers: How to Find the Good Ones and Keep ThemSee how schools are making progress, and where they are falling short, in addressing chronic teacher shortages in STEM fields.
Recruitment & Retention Some Districts Are Still Struggling to Hire Teachers for the New YearAs the school year creeps closer, districts are still trying to find qualified teachers to fill spots.
Recruitment & Retention Why This District Established Its Own Police DepartmentPolice departments nationwide are struggling to recruit officers. That makes it difficult for districts to find school resource officers.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion Grow-Your-Own-Teacher Programs Could Use a RedesignAn advocate for future educators offers an alternative way to engage today’s students in teaching.
