A District’s Long-Term Investment in Cultivating Future Teachers Is Paying Off
Teacher Retention Strategies in Ector County Texas
At Elevate Teaching, we came across an article by Caitlynn Peetz published in EdWeek in February that highlights the successful teacher retention strategies implemented in Ector County, Texas. The district has made remarkable progress, with virtually no teaching vacancies in its 44 campuses, compared to 356 teaching vacancies (18% of the district's teaching positions) in the summer of 2019.
Ector County's success can be attributed to its multi-point plan, which includes several key elements. These elements include restructuring the salary schedule, developing career pathways for both students and existing employees, offering an "incentive pay" scheme, and creating a paid teacher residency program. Additionally, the district has a teacher licensure program that allows people with bachelor's degrees in subjects other than education to obtain a teaching license. The district's shift in mentality, from passively posting a staff opening to cultivating future teachers, has also played a significant role in the district's improvement.
For Minnesota teachers interested in learning more about Ector County's successful teacher recruitment and retention strategies, we recommend researching and studying the district's multi-point plan. This includes examining the district's approach to cultivating its own pipeline of future teachers, boosting teacher pay, and creating career pathways for students and existing employees. Teachers can also look into the district's incentive pay system for effective teachers, its paraprofessional to teacher pathway, and its teacher residency program.
Moreover, Minnesota teachers can connect with Ector County administrators or educators to gain insights into the district's experiences and seek advice on implementing similar strategies in their own schools and districts. Ector County's strategies have resulted in significant improvements, and Minnesota teachers can learn from the district's successes to enhance their own teaching and improve their districts.
