Teacher Turnover in Central Pennsylvania: What Can School Districts and Principals Do to Promote Teacher Retention?

Traditionally, teacher turnover rates remained low in central Pennsylvania, but since the Covid 19 Pandemic, early-career attrition rates have increased drastically. This has coincided with less new teachers being certified, which has added to a teacher shortage in the region. This study seeks to find answers as to why teachers are leaving schools and what can be done about it out through the eyes of teachers. This mixed methods study uses a survey, a focus group, and interviews to gather opinions from teachers based on the following research questions. What are the main reasons teachers want to leave public schools in central Pennsylvania, and how does this compare or contrast with the researcher’s own school district? What working conditions promote teacher retention? What forms of support do teachers need from principals to promote retention? The survey encompasses the opinions of 132 participants across six school districts. The focus group gathers opinions from current teachers in the researcher’s own district. The interviews gather information from seven teachers who have left the researcher’s own district. These data tools provide multi-faceted perspectives on teacher turnover and what can be done about it. In the study, participants pointed to low salaries and frustrations with leadership and the profession itself as main reasons for high turnover rates; however, teachers shared a number of solutions, including raising salaries, supporting teachers on student discipline, and reducing non-instructional duties. Based on this evidence, recommendations are provided for school districts and principals to improve teacher retention.