Innovation schools are retaining teachers. Here is how

From District Administration

Dr. Priscilla Dilley, Cheif of Schools, Fort Worth ISD

Published June 04, 2025

In the neighborhood public schools of the past, teachers were familiar faces to the families who attended, cultivating close, years-long relationships as multiple family members passed through their classrooms.

Today, it’s less common for a student to have the same teacher as their older brother or sister. Frustrated, burnt-out and underpaid, many teachers aren’t sticking around past the end of the school year. In fact, 44% of educators leave the classroom within their first five years of teaching.

While the revolving door may be slowing down as turnover rates return to pre-pandemic levels, school districts, especially those in urban areas, are still struggling to retain quality educators.