It's About Time

How to Keep Teachers From Leaving the Profession by Kristina Rizga
The Atlantic, September 19, 2019

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In this 7th article in the series, “On Teaching” in The Atlantic, Kristina Rizga describes the myriad underlying causes of the impending teacher shortage that will affect both public and independent schools in the next five years. In 1998, the average teacher had fifteen years of experience; now the average teacher has only three. Rizga looks at decades of research that points to the need for on-the-job training with effective peer coaches and mentor teachers. This kind of collaboration is not only vital for helping teachers to hone their skills, but is also a critical factor in helping teachers to remain in education as a career. The Finnish and Japanese systems build into teaching schedules ample time for teachers to collaborate, to create curriculum, to study student work in teams, and to observe other teachers. Teachers cite that, more than any other professional development, these activities promote the most change in their pedagogy while improving learning in their classrooms. Yet, American schools design daily schedules and yearly calendars that leave virtually no time for teachers to work together. This article is another reminder, perhaps especially to independent schools where the teacher-student relationship is prized greatly, that peer collaboration among faculty should also be at the heart of any great school.