Recruiting and Retaining Recruiting and Retaining Teachers for High Needs Teachers for High Needs Schools:Schools:“It Takes a Valley”“It Takes a Valley”

Dr. Susan Meyers, DeanMarch 6, 2009

AgendaAgendaRationale and Research Base

It Takes a Valley – Description of Project

It Takes a Valley – From the Student’s Perspective

First Step – Selecting the Students

Rationale and Research Rationale and Research BaseBaseDr. Ken Futernick Study:

A Possible Dream: Retaining California Teachers So All Students Learn 2007

22% of California’s teachers leave after their first four years in the classroom

A sample of 875 stayers and leavers responded to the on-line survey:

Rationale and Research Rationale and Research BaseBaseDifferences Between dissatisfied

leavers of high-poverty schools28% leavers in high poverty schools stated credential

program coursework did not prepare them to be successful in their school compared to 2% in low poverty schools

21% of leavers in high poverty schools stated that their student teaching experience did not prepare them to be successful in their school compared to 4% of leavers in low poverty schools… 20% completed student teaching as “emergency permit teachers”

49% of leavers in high poverty schools stated lack of parent involvement affected their decision to leave vs. 25% leavers in low poverty schools

40% leavers in high poverty schools stated lack of texts and materials vs. 22% leavers in low poverty schools

Rationale and Research Rationale and Research BaseBaseExpectations and Reality

Student Experiences:Learning the Culture of the Community

Learning About Boundaries

Learning About Families

Learning About School Culture

Learning About English Learners

It Takes a Valley Project It Takes a Valley Project DescriptionDescription

Selecting Schools and Teacher Partners

Selecting Student Participants

The Four Community Service Learning Semesters

The Four Community Service The Four Community Service Learning SemestersLearning Semesters

Semester One: In the High Poverty School

in the classroom and beyond the classroom

seminar and journal

The Four Community Service The Four Community Service Learning SemestersLearning SemestersSemester Two: In the Social Service Agency

chemical dependence course

learning about family challengesnight ridesfamily counseling sessions

seminar and journal

The Four Community Service The Four Community Service Learning SemestersLearning Semesters

Semester Three: Business and Technology

learning the world of business

exploring teaching with technology

seminar and journal

The Four Community Service The Four Community Service Learning SemestersLearning Semesters

Semester Four: In the High Poverty School

bringing it all together

preparing for transition to intern program

““It Takes a Valley”It Takes a Valley”

From the Students’ Perspective

Selection of teacher partners Selection of teacher partners and student participants is and student participants is the first keythe first key

Work with partners:create a list of interview

questions for the teacherscreate a list of interview

questions for student participants

Write your best questions on the cardthe list will be available for you

before the end of our conference