The Link Between Professional Growth and Teacher Retention

Teacher retention is one of education’s most pressing challenges. Fewer teachers are entering the traditional pipeline, too many are leaving the profession within their first five years, and the end result is costly and disruptive for schools and districts around the globe.  

There is no silver bullet. But one of the best ways to improve retention in your organization is through teacher professional development. Teachers who are continuously learning and growing their careers and feel equipped to meet the ever-changing learning needs of their students are much more likely to stay with their district and in the profession in general. Plus, strong PD leads to more highly qualified teachers, which leads to better instruction and better results for students — the reason we all went into education in the first place.  

The Cost of High Turnover 

Larger school districts spend nearly $25,000 on average to replace a departing teacher, according to the Learning Policy Institute. The bill may be higher or lower in your organization, but the true cost goes beyond the financial stats.  

Think about it from a student’s perspective: You build a special bond with a favorite teacher who truly understands your learning style and challenges. Then, one year later, they’re gone. You invest in a new relationship with the replacement teacher, only for that teacher to leave, too. 

This cycle doesn’t just disrupt individual relationships and student academic growth; it can fracture an entire school community. Teachers struggle to build solid, supportive relationships with colleagues when turnover is frequent. And new educators are starting from scratch, unable to benefit from the institutional knowledge and mentorship that a more experienced staff could provide. 

Hungry for Growth 

Why does strong professional development improve retention? Simply put, teachers don’t want to remain static, delivering the same lessons the same way year after year. They’re hungry for new challenges, fresh perspectives, and opportunities to expand their expertise. If they’re not getting those opportunities in their current organization, they’ll look for a new one.  

A Pew Research Center survey shows only 36% of teachers are “extremely satisfied” with their opportunities for training or developing new skills. Another 38% reported being “somewhat satisfied” with their PD options while 26% responded “not at all.” 

PD can be groundbreaking for teachers. Moreland University alumna Trina Seitz, for example, was feeling unsettled by all the new developments in AI, dreading the impact AI might have on her science classroom. It was one of her biggest concerns heading into the 2025-26 school year. But after taking a PD course through Moreland, Seitz’s perspective did a 180. Now she’s excited about the possibilities that come with AI and excited to teach her students how to use it responsibly and ethically. 

“As a teacher, I always want to be learning,” she said. “I always want that drive to do better and improve myself.” 

Keys to Effective Professional Development 

But here’s the catch — it can’t just be any professional development. Teachers can spot irrelevant, one-size-fits-all training from a mile away, and nothing kills enthusiasm faster than mandatory sessions that waste precious time. 

Just as the expectation is for teachers to deliver individualized instruction to their students, high-quality professional development should be personalized to your specific teachers and the challenges they’re facing in their specific classrooms. There’s nothing worse than spending your limited free time on training that doesn’t apply to your classroom reality. This is why Moreland University offers customizable PD, so district leaders can tailor the course to what their teacher teams are interested in learning or where they’re struggling. 

Teacher PD also needs to be regularly updated. Education is evolving rapidly, and PD needs to evolve as well. Take artificial intelligence, for example. Even a PD created last year would be woefully out of date today. It’s an investment on the front end to continually update offerings, but for PD to be effective, it has to be current.  

Flexibility is another crucial component. Some teachers thrive at multi-day conferences, energized by intensive learning experiences. Others prefer online courses they can complete at their own pace. You won’t be able to please 100% of your teachers 100% of the time, but if you offer different options, you’re much likelier to achieve overall satisfaction. 

Finally, the best professional development is collaborative. Let teachers lean into their biggest strength: teaching! When PD programs create opportunities for content-specific or interdisciplinary peer-to-peer learning and idea sharing, they tap into the collective wisdom and creativity of new and experienced educators alike. 

Not only can intentional PD produce immediate and observable instructional impact, meaningful professional development sends a clear message to teachers: We believe in your potential, and we’re committed to helping you reach it. From there, everyone wins. Teachers feel fulfilled and challenged. Students benefit from more effective instruction. Districts save thousands of dollars on recruitment and replacement costs. Most importantly, we create educational environments where teachers and students can thrive. 

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Looking for a professional development partner? Moreland University’s PD courses blend live, virtual classes with asynchronous activities. This allows your teachers to collaborate with each other and their instructors while still prioritizing their own schedules and learning styles.  

Course offerings:  

• AI for Educators
• Enhancing Instructional Design
• Classroom Essentials for Teachers
• Data-Driven Instruction
• Differentiated Instruction
• Embracing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
• Language and Literacy Development
• Leadership Development
• And many more! 

We also create customized courses for our partners. Download our course catalogue or book a brief meeting to get started.