Teachers Need a Real Career Path

Lisette Partelow argues that if schools want better teacher retention they should not stick them with the same tasks forever.

Heidi Welch, the 2013 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year, knows what it’s like to feel stuck in the same job without many chances for professional growth. “I love my school and I love my district,” Welch said at a recent event in Crystal City, Virginia, “but I just reached year 20 and I feel like there is nowhere to go.”

On the other side of the country, education stakeholders in Nevada have come to a similar conclusion: a typical teaching career lacks career pathways and opportunities for professional growth. This shortfall is a problem for states seeking to attract and retain great teachers.

The above excerpt was originally published in U.S. News & World Report. Click here to view the full article.

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