TEACHER RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Colorado’s rural school districts are facing an unprecedented teacher shortage driven by a disparity in wages compared to metro districts and fewer teacher program candidates. As a result, the CREC has undertaken multiple efforts to counteract this trend including securing funding for and hosting teacher immersion experiences across rural Colorado and launching a rural education job board as well as supporting teachers in mastering their craft.
OUR CURRENT WORK
During the 2022-2023 school year, the CREC supported the following projects to increase teacher recruitment and retention:
ADULT WELLNESS - In partnership with the Early College of Arvada, teachers received professional development around work-life balance through group activities/play, a book study of Elena Aguilar’s “Onward,” and guidance in cultivating a shared vision around work-life balance. Participants named barriers to achieving balance and identified their sphere of influence. Their culminating project involved problem-solving together to co-create a social contract they will support each other to follow (ex: personal planning time is sacred). This work also funded retention bonuses for returning staff.
OUR PAST WORK
For the 2019-2022 school years, the CREC will support projects to increase teacher retention, recruitment, and development:
In partnership with University of Denver and CSU-Global, teachers from San Luis Valley, Northeast, and East Central BOCES are continuing their education in their math content area and participating in professional development as a math cohort. With the support from University of Denver, teachers participate in monthly, virtual, Professional Learning Communities (PLC), connecting and supporting each other through book studies and problems of practice. Through CSU-Global, teachers are also completing either Master of Science in Teaching and Learning with a Specialization in Math or to receive Dual Enrollment Math Certificates. Report: Concurrent Enrollment Increase
In partnership with Western University, teachers from both Santa Fe Trail and Southeast BOCES are working towards earning a Master of Arts in Education, Education Effectiveness (MAEE) with a focus in Special Education or an endorsement. They are also participating in monthly, virtual PLCs, hosted by Generation Schools Network staff.
Teachers from San Luis Valley, Northeast, East Central, Santa Fe Trail, and South Central BOCES take part in Summer Institute, a forum for intensive learning and discussion with faculty held in June. This forum provides teachers with the opportunity to reflect and plan for the upcoming year and to learn about school-wide or district initiatives.
To view our recent piece on Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Rural Colorado in the National Association of State Boards of Education’s Standard, click here.
During the 2018-2020 school years, the CREC supported two major projects related to teacher recruitment & retention:
In partnership with the University of Denver’s Center for Rural School Health & Education, an immersion experience was held in the Santa Fe Trail BOCES and the Southeast BOCES communities for school counselors, psychologists and social workers to introduce them to rural communities and form a community of practice using ECHO technology to better support students and teacher in addressing mental health needs.
In partnership with the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs and the South Central BOCES, math teachers were recruited, supported, and assisted in building capacity to support student teachers and new teachers. Find the report that demonstrates a 90% retention rate here.
For more information on this partnership click here.
Job board section with monthly postings added to the CREC website as a collaborative effort to bring teachers into the rural communities of Colorado.
