SUPPORTING TEACHERS IN HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS

Attracting and Retaining High-Performing, Motivated Teachers in Hard-to-Staff Schools

Jamie Schlais Barnes (Program Evaluation Specialist, CCTC Hull) - Chesterfield County Public Schools)

This presentation will share findings from a focus group discussion with high-performing, motivated teachers on strategies to attract and retain high-performing, motivated teachers in hard-to-staff schools. Findings from the focus group discussion align with the literature on performance pay and strategies for staffing hard-to-staff schools.   

Supporting Teachers Beyond the Probationary Period In High Need Schools

Jaime Stacy (Instructional Development Specialist, CCTC Hull) - Chesterfield County Public Schools

In investigating best practices in providing supports to teachers in high need schools, there is a large amount of research for beginning teachers, but little exists for teachers beyond the probationary period. In school divisions where demographics are rapidly changing, even the strongest teachers are having to adjust practice to meet new challenges, and administrators are having to become creative in finding ways to support them. Without the proper supports, these teachers often transfer to another school, or leave the profession altogether. This presentation will explore these issues, and discuss strategies of what can be done about it.    

Preparing Teachers for Hard to Staff Schools: Successes and Challenges of Residency Models

Tamara Sober, PhD (Secondary Track Curriculum Director), Terry Dozier (Director), Brian Condit (Resident), and Brittany Jones (Teacher, John Marshall High School in Richmond Public Schools/ RTR Alumni) -Richmond Teacher Residency

The challenges of recruiting and retaining teachers for hard to staff schools persist. This session will focus on the successful components of residency models that address these challenges, such as how residency and mentoring differs from traditional student teaching, and how curriculum can be aligned to better prepare preservice teachers for various contexts. This session will open with a panel discussion with voices representing various perspectives on the residency model, including a current resident and a resident alum. Panelists will then engage participants in discussions on the above topics as well as how to sustainably fund residency models.