Decision tree tool: difficulty retaining effective sta

Decision tree tool: Staffing challenges as a root cause of student achievement issues

Difficulty retaining effective staff

School teams can use this tool if they have identified educator retention among the root causes hindering student achievement. Schools can find ideas for evidence-based strategies that may become part of a school improvement plan (white boxes), and/or ideas for shorter-term next steps (blue boxes) that can improve retention. These boxes also indicate alignment with Essential Practices and include information buttons with links to tools and resources. The evidence-based strategies come from the PA Evidence Resource Center and/or What Works Clearinghouse. All strategies are at Tier 3 or above, except for “Instructional Coaches.” This strategy is at Tier 4 but is included because using coaches is a common part of other improvement strategies. Facilitation tips:

• When a school team is deciding if a statement in the decision tree acurately describes their school, encourage the team to refer to quantitative/qualitative data. For example, the school or LEA should be able to track whether “newer staff are more likely to leave.” Staff perception data can indicate whether “for staff, student behavior and learning climate pose a key adverse working condition.”
• Encourage discussion of whether and how the evidence-based strategies could fit with other existing work, or strategies that may be part of the school improvement plan.
• If a school team considers using a strategy or next step from the decision tree, apply it to a driver diagram and/or theory of action to ensure a coherent connection to root causes and student achievement in the school’s specific context.
• If a school team would like further support to identify high-leverage points to address staffing challenges, they can use our human capital self-assessment tool kit.
• Is your school facing a scenario not described in this tool? Do you have further questions about human capital issues? SIFs or school team members can contact Meagan_Steiner@iu13.org for support.

Start here

Decision tree tool: Staffing challenges as a root cause of student achievement issues

Difficulty retaining effective staff

Staff lack support and/or capacity to meet students' needs

Many staff are new, and/or our newer staff are more likely to leave

Staff experience low morale & high levels of stress

focus #4: working climate & conditions

focus #2: quality of training, coaching & feedback

focus #3: behavior management skills

Focus #1: support for new teachers

Next

Next

Next

Next

Return to introduction

Focus #1: support for new teachers

Training & support for mentors are insufficient

We want to revise all or most of the mentoring & induction program

Review the training you currently provide to mentors. Solicit mentor feedback on how to improve training.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY: Analyze the current induction program and evaluate it against evidence-based models.

EP 16

EP 17

Evaluate current training, supports and structures for mentors. Identify opportunities to apply research-based effective practices.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY:Apply the four-step GROW model for structuring coaching and mentoring sessions.

EP 16 & 18

EP 17

Return to main menu

Focus #2: QUALITY OF TRAINING, COACHING & FEEDBACK

We want to expand or improve instructional coaching

We're unsure of the strengths & weaknesses of the current feedback process

We want to expand sources of feedback

Collect feedback from staff about the quality, timeliness and efficacy of instructional feedback. Ask about the relevancy of feedback to the teachers' specific grade/s and subject/s.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY: Use the MyTeachingPartner-Secondary coaching model, with online resources and supports.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY: Implement or enhance use of instructional coaches, aligned with best practices.

EP 5 & 17

EP 5 & 17

EP 5

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY:Apply the four-step GROW model for structuring coaching and mentoring sessions.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY:Leverage Teacher Study Groups as an additional source of quality instructional feedback.

Systematically track how frequently school leaders/coaches provide feedback; how soon they provide feedback after an observation; and how often they follow up to determine implementation of their feedback.

EP 17

EP 17

Return to main menu

EP 5 & 18

Use a uniform tool to prepare quality feedback.

EP 5

Focus #3: BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SKILLS

For staff, student behavior and learning climate pose a key adverse working condition

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES:Adopt or enhance a schoolwide culture and climate initiative based on models such as:

• Whole-School Change

• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

• Social Skills Improvement System Classwide Intervention Program

• We Have Skills
• The Incredible Years--Teacher Classroom Management Program

• 4Rs Program

EP 8, 11, 12, 13 & 17

Return to main menu

Focus #4: working climate & conditions

We lack understanding of which conditions are affecting retention and/or what we can do about them.

Staff report feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY: Implement Positive Psychological Interventions for teachers.

Disaggregate and analyze existing staff feedback and gather addition feedback about working conditions.

EP 11

EP 8

Hold retention interviews and analyze your findings.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY:Use Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques (SMART) in Education for teachers to help reduce levels of occupational stress.

EP 8

EP 11

Review existing opportunities for staff voice or involvement in decision-making; analyze how you can expand opportunities and include a broeader, representative subset of staff.

Return to main menu

EP 8

Focus #4: working climate & conditions

We lack understanding of which conditions are affecting retention and/or what we can do about them.

Staff report feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY: Implement Positive Psychological Interventions for teachers.

Disaggregate and analyze existing staff feedback and gather additional feedback about working conditions.

EP 11

EP 8

Hold retention interviews and analyze your findings.

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY:Use Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques (SMART) in Education for teachers to help reduce levels of occupational stress.

EP 8

EP 11

Review existing opportunities for staff voice or involvement in decision-making; analyze how you can expand opportunities and include a broeader, representative subset of staff.

Return to main menu

EP 8

GROW Model of Coaching and Mentoring

"The GROW model of coaching and mentoring (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) is a four-step method to scructuring coaching and mentoring sessions.

Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques in Education

"This evidence-based personal renewal program is 'designed especially for faculty and staff working in ECE-12 settings.'"

Instructional Coaching

"Instructional Coaches provide intensive differentiated support to teachers so they are able to implement best practices... They often model lessons, observe teachers, provide constructive feedback, and share their experiences and expertise..."

New Teacher Center's comprehensive teacher induction model

"A comprehensive model of teacher induction: Implementation and impact on teachers and students. Evaluation of the New Teacher Center’s i3 Validation Grant"

For more information...

See this guide on "How to Survey Stakeholders."

For more information...

View this webinar and/or related resources on stay conversations for teacher retention.

For more information...

See this "Training and Supporting Mentors" strategy brief

Teacher Study Groups

"Teacher study groups pair professional development with teacher observation and feedback. Study groups provide a regular collaborative environment for teachers of varying backgrounds, knowledge, and skills, and these settings enable teachers to help one another use new learning."

Positive Psychological Interventions for Teachers

"Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are treatment methods or intentional activities that build positive feelings, behaviors, or cognitions."

The Incredible Years--Teacher Classroom Management Program

"This prevention program... strengthens teacher classroom management strategies and promotes children's prosocial behavior."

The 4Rs

"The 4Rs curriculum (Reading, Writing, Respect & Resolution) engages the imagination and creativity of children in grades PreK-5."

Human capital self-assessment toolkit

LEA leaders can use the tools on this page to help determine where to focus their strategic human capital efforts. Users can choose to review the documents as a whole, or to focus on the section/s that are most relevant to their system’s current needs.

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

"Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a three-tiered framework for improving and integrating all of the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day."

The GROW Model of Coaching and Mentoring

"The GROW model of coaching and mentoring (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) is a four-step method to structuring coaching and mentoring sessions.

For more information...

Review and adapt this template for providing quality instructional feedback (forced copy).

We Have Skills

"Designed as a universal prevention strategy important for all children, We Have Skills also includes additional activities that support more intensive work."

Social Skills Improvement Classwide Intervention Program

"The Social Skills Improvement Classwide Intervention Program provides interventions that focus on the top 10 social skills... from preschool to early adolescene."

For more information...

See this guide on "How to involve statkeholders in decision-making."

MyTeachingPartner-Secondary

"MyTeachingPartner-Secondary (MTP-S) is a professional development program that aims to increase student learning and development through improved student-teacher interactions."

For more information...

Review the tips on mentor training and support in "Mitigating Teacher Shortages: Induction and Mentorship" from the Education Commission of the States.

For more information...

Panorama Education's Teacher and Staff Survey includes items about the quality of feedback on pages 13-14.

Click on information buttons like these throughout the decision tree to access further information and links.

Whole-School Change

"Whole-School Change (formerly SaferSanerSchools) is a K-12 program of the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) to teach school administrators, educators, counselors and support staff how to explicitly build positive school climate and culture using restorative practices..."

Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques in Education

"This evidence-based personal renewal program is 'designed especially for faculty and staff working in ECE-12 settings.'"

For more information...

See this guide on "How to Survey Stakeholders."

For more information...

View this webinar and/or related resources on stay conversations for teacher retention.

Positive Psychological Interventions for Teachers

"Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are treatment methods or intentional activities that build positive feelings, behaviors, or cognitions."

For more information...

See this guide on "How to involve statkeholders in decision-making."