Reduce Teacher Turnover: Teacher Retention Strategies That Work in 2025
| by Kyle Freelander
Retaining talented teachers is a top priority for schools and districts. With teacher shortages on the rise, finding ways to support and keep educators in the classroom is essential. This blog post explores what teacher retention is, why it matters, and the actionable steps you can take to create a thriving teacher workforce.
What is Teacher Retention?
Teacher retention is all about how schools and districts keep great educators on board year after year. When teacher retention is strong, schools are filled with experienced, engaged teachers who know their students and communities well. On the flip side, low retention rates can mean constant staff turnover, teacher burnout, and challenges for student success.
Why is Teacher Retention Important?
Here’s why it’s critical to focus on keeping educators in the profession:
- Positive school culture: A stable teaching staff contributes to a collaborative, trusting school environment where teachers can work together to improve outcomes. High turnover disrupts this dynamic and increases stress for the remaining teachers and staff, who often have to take on extra responsibilities.
- Cost savings: Replacing a teacher is expensive. Between recruitment, hiring, and training, the cost can reach nearly $25,000 in larger districts, according to the Learning Policy Institute. Retaining educators helps schools save money and redirect resources where they’re needed most.
- Addressing teacher shortages: A nationwide teacher shortage continues in the U.S., with an estimated 406,964 teaching positions either unfilled or filled by teachers under-certified for their assignments, according to the Learning Policy Institute. Additionally, research from the National Center for Education Statistics found 50% of public-school leaders felt their school is understaffed. When public school leaders were asked about challenges in filling vacant teaching positions for the 2024–25 school year, the majority cited a lack of qualified candidates (64%) and too few applicants (62%). Retaining current teachers reduces the strain of recruitment and ensures classrooms are led by qualified professionals.
- Student outcomes: Research shows students do better academically when taught by experienced educators who understand their unique needs.
- Community trust and engagement: Retention builds stronger school communities. Parents, students, and local organizations build trust with educators who are deeply invested in the area, which enhances collaboration and support for school initiatives.
- Long-term results: Teachers improve with experience, leading to higher-quality instruction over time. Research shows teacher effectiveness significantly increases during the first five years of teaching, emphasizing the importance of retaining educators beyond this period. This affects more than just test scores, with research showing teacher experience positively impacts factors such as student attendance.
- Consistency for students: When teachers stay, students benefit from stable relationships, experienced instruction, and a smoother educational journey.
In short, retaining teachers isn’t just about filling classrooms. It’s about creating thriving environments where both educators and students can succeed.

Common Barriers to Teacher Retention
What’s causing teachers to leave the profession? Here are some of the leading challenges:
- Inadequate compensation: Let’s face it — teachers deserve more for the incredible work they do. Low salaries are one of the top reasons educators leave, especially in areas with a high cost of living.
- Burnout and overwork: Managing large class sizes, endless paperwork, and limited planning time can take a serious toll. Burnout is especially common among early-career teachers.
- Lack of support: Without strong mentoring, professional development, or administrative backing, teachers can feel isolated and undervalued.
- Toxic work environments: A negative school culture, poor leadership, or lack of respect for teachers can push even the most dedicated educators to leave.
- Few growth opportunities: Many teachers leave because they don’t see a clear path for career advancement within the profession.

How to Measure Teacher Retention
Measuring teacher retention doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few ways to track and understand teacher retention in your school or district:
- Teacher retention rate: To calculate this, look at a cohort of teachers during a given time period (a calendar year, for example). Take the number of those teachers who remain at the end of the period and divide it by the number who were there at the beginning. Then multiply by 100. You can follow this formula:
Retention Rate = (Teachers Staying ÷ Teachers at Start) x 100
- Exit interviews: Sit down with departing teachers to understand their reasons for leaving. Their feedback can highlight areas where your school or district needs improvement.
- Track tenure: Keep an eye on how long teachers stay in your schools. Identifying patterns can help you address retention challenges early.
Teacher Retention Strategies That Work
So, how can schools and districts keep their best teachers? Here are six strategies that really make a difference:
1. Offer Competitive Pay and Benefits
Teachers are professionals, and their compensation should reflect that. Offering salaries that match or exceed industry standards, along with benefits like health care, retirement plans, and stipends for extra responsibilities, can make a big impact.
2. Strengthen Teacher Preparation
Teachers who feel prepared and supported from the start are more likely to stay in the profession long-term. Partnering with organizations like Moreland University can help your school or district offer top-notch teacher preparation programs. Through comprehensive certification and professional development, Moreland equips teachers with the tools they need to succeed and thrive in the classroom.
3. Invest in Professional Development
Show teachers you’re invested in their growth. Provide access to workshops, online courses, or advanced degree programs. This not only builds their skills but also boosts their confidence and satisfaction.
4. Create Mentorship Programs
Pairing new teachers with experienced mentors can help them navigate the challenges of the job. A supportive mentor can make all the difference during those critical first years.
5. Prioritize Work-Life Balance
Help teachers avoid burnout by promoting policies like flexible schedules, reduced administrative tasks, and mental health resources. When teachers feel balanced, they’re more likely to stay.
6. Recognize and Reward Teachers
A little appreciation goes a long way. Celebrate teacher achievements with awards, shout-outs, or opportunities for leadership roles. Recognition shows teachers their hard work is valued.

Teacher Retention in Action: Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS)
Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) in Georgia is addressing its long-standing challenge of retaining special education teachers through an innovative partnership with Moreland. Special education positions have become even harder to fill post-COVID due to increasing student needs and demanding certification requirements. To support teachers and encourage retention, CCPS partnered with Moreland’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program, offering a faster, 9-month path to certification compared to traditional programs.
For the 2024-25 school year, CCPS covered tuition for 36 special education teachers in exchange for a three-year commitment to the district. This initiative not only accelerates certification but also fosters teacher retention by showing educators that their district values and invests in them.

Strengthen Teacher Preparation & Retention with Moreland
Keeping great teachers in the classroom takes effort, but the rewards are worth it. By addressing barriers like low pay, burnout, and lack of support and implementing strategies like competitive compensation, strong teacher preparation, and professional development, schools can build environments where teachers want to stay and grow their careers.
Moreland University partners with school districts around the country to help teachers earn professional certifications and master’s degrees. Learn more here, or book a brief meeting with our team to discuss your specific goals and needs.