Keep Your Star Teachers from Quitting You

In my previous post, Very Few Teachers Ever Quit Teaching, I proposed the idea that teachers never quit teaching. They quit their principal. If this is true, for the most part, then here are some easy to use strategies to keep your star teachers from quitting you.

1. Say Thank You to Your Teachers

No, don't go there...not in a general email. That's not good enough. It's practically boss spam.

Instead, make it personal. I was leaving Kroger's the other day, and the manager was cleaning the entry area. An employee was leaving his shift, and the manager said, "Thanks for your hard work today."

That's it. It's not magical. It's leadership, and it says how much you value your teachers.

Here are 23 Tips to Boost Staff Morale.

2. Be a Treasure Hunter

It is so easy to point out every flaw and detail of imperfection. Or should I say, perceived flaw?

Make it a habit of walking through classrooms and finding treasure! Organized environments, rigor of questions, % of students engaged on work aligned to the discipline's core concepts, positive interactions, and more!

3. Get Rid of Task Vacuums

Teachers complete innumerable tasks throughout the day at an alarming rate. Any lack of clarity about your expectations creates unnecessary stress and conflict. 

Be clear about how and what you want accomplished. Be equally clear about those tasks that you give complete autonomy to your teachers. 

This is not the place for a vacuum. It will suck out energy and effectiveness from your best teachers and create negative morale with your worst.

4. Manage Your Own Fears

"If I say what I really think, I'll lose him." "I think they're talking bad about me in the lounge." "I'll just keep peace by not expressing my own feelings."

No. no. no. You're the leader. Be the one who builds relationships by managing your fears. 

Use honesty clothed with kindness. Use confidence clothed with humility. Situate tough conversations in a climate of support and celebration.

Read more on Fear Can Destroy a Campus Culture.

5. Manage Frameworks Instead of People

Teachers are naturally creative and/or success-oriented individuals. They didn't work through extensive degrees and certifications because they were "lazy". Then don't focus on managing them. Instead, manage the frameworks. 

What general vision do you have for your classrooms? What set of overarching instructional strategies do you believe in? Promote, support, coach, and celebrate these. Manage the framework - don't micro-manage the people.

Read more on Vision Leadership in Schools.

6. Create a Culture of Success

Set goals, provide the structures for teams to set performance goals, and ask teachers to set individual goals. Don't make the fatal mistake of stopping there.

Review goals monthly. Ask for teachers to share their progress in team meetings. Create ways for teams to celebrate individual successes publicly.

Ask for teams to share progress on their team goals. Celebrate growth. Celebrate what's creating growth. Do more of that. Then celebrate it more.

(Celebration is one way to change the burned out narrative)

I think the list could go on, but it really boils down to one thing. Star teachers are motivated by success. Tap into their successes and your star teachers won't quit on you!

Read more on Innovation, School Improvement, & Toxicity.