(FRANKFORT, KY) – Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council (SCAAC) discussed teacher recruitment and retention during their meeting on Nov. 19.
Elly Gilbert, an assistant director for the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, asked council members about strategies or messaging that they have seen that have successfully attracted or retained teaching talent within their local communities.
“We want to highlight the need for quality teachers in our classrooms, as we know that is the number one factor for student achievement and we know that also impacts student attendance as well,” Gilbert said.
Deborah Atherton, a council member who represents local school board members, spoke about the importance of the culture inside a school when it comes to recruiting and retaining educators.
“Many districts have their best and brightest students that come back because of its culture inside of the building and they want to spend their lives in that,” she said. “I would think the culture of the building, the engagement of your teachers and your students is what pulls your best into the industry and it's getting harder to do that.”
When it comes to retaining those already in education, Jana Beth Francis, the chair of the council and the district assessment coordinator for Daviess County said it is important that communities and schools find ways to elevate teachers as professionals and recognize the work and dedication already going on within the classrooms.
“We must do more to elevate teachers as professionals,” she said. “I'm a third-generation Kentucky educator and I can see a change in how we view teachers as professionals and lots of times, that is coming from us as professionals.”
Alan Young, a teacher in Jefferson County who serves on the council, pointed out that this is a national issue, not just something seen within the Commonwealth. He said that we need to make Kentucky the destination place for educators across the nation.
“That’s why it is so important for us to say that educators need to come to teach in Kentucky,” he said. “Show them what we are doing differently and say, ‘Here’s where you can have a great profession.’”
Young said Kentucky also needs to address barriers causing people to not want to teach or issues that make it harder for people to become educators.
“I came from Iowa and had to bring my teaching credentials and stuff here, and it’s not always a very easy process,” Young said.
Young recommended looking at schools as a talent development agency. Using teachers as the ones cultivating the talents of students and recognizing that some of the students within their classrooms could be the greatest educators.
“We are talking about investing in people in an asset-based way where they get to show off their talents, their skills, their strengths and their passions. I think that is what we have to be about as we try to attract these talented educators,” he said.
Other council members agreed with these thoughts and comments and shared that culture is a top priority when it comes to retention and recruitment efforts, saying that positive school and district cultures need to be built within these efforts.
Gilbert shared grow-your-own program resources from KDE with the council members and gave information on the Teaching and Learning career pathways that high schools can implement, which give students dual credit hours and the hands on opportunities.
“Through our teaching and learning career pathway students get to be in the classroom when they are in high school and that’s their favorite part, we would love to see that program expanded,” Gilbert said.
The next School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council meeting will be held on March 18.
Other items shared:
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SCAAC Chair and Vice-Chair Election
- Heather Aldrich, who represents district assessment coordinators, was elected as the vice chair for SCAAC, and Jana Beth Francis was elected to continue her role as chair for the council.
- Chronic Absenteeism
- Florence Chang, a program consultant in KDE’s Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, shared with the council members data on chronic absenteeism and discussed strategies for engaging students, families, schools and communities in promoting school attendance.
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