Which private schools retain their teachers the most?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]How is it that some of the staff/administrators are also teachers at some of the top private schools? [/quote]

As an administrator who teaches, I do it because it keeps me in tune with kids and with what faculty are experiencing day to day. Teaching is often the highlight of my day and I don't want to give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A topic that I find so frustrating. If good teachers are valued, then why aren't they rewarded financially and with praise? Those who teach the younger students are valued the least. Most infuriating? You could be the best teacher in the world, but if a male teacher does one excellent lesson or coordinates one event, he is immediately valued more than a female teacher. Male teachers are valued more at every single school. A good fourth grade teacher is given a pat on the back, but a good male teacher is asked to move into administration. Last but not least, tell me how many young teaching mothers out there are valued? My head recently told me how she was so impressed with how much energy on of the male teachers at our school had, that he could be at school early, coordinate a ton of events, teach his heart out and still have tons of energy. I just nodded. What I wanted to say was Yes, it is incredible how much energy you have when you have someone else, say a wife, getting the kids up in the morning, getting them dressed, making lunches, and making dinner for everyone while still working full time.

Love my job. Wish more good teachers were recognized, wish more bad teachers were fired, wish my school would ask these questions.

the US is especially bad this way. When I travel to Europe, especially Italy, when people find out I am a teacher, they are so respectful. Teaching is exhausting, difficult work that requires a customized approach to each kid. (and I agree 100% on the preference for male teachers. And, a tall male teacher? both the kids and the administration fawn on these)

[Anonymous]

I've been teaching for eleven years and love my job for reasons besides tuition remission (my school only offers fifty percent anyways)

Tuition remission is an indicator that your school values you as a teacher and recognizes you as a parent. As much as I love my job, I know that tuition remission will be an issue for my family one day. After all, why should my child receive less of an education than my students? I think that it speaks badly of a school when faculty aren't able to send their own children to the school where they work.

Signs of a school that values good teachers? Daycare, significant tuition remission (without the guilt), kind words, a listening ear (too many admins hear but don't listen) and showing good teachers that their work is valued by letting incompetent teachers go. Of course, we need to ask teachers who do not have children what makes them feel valued, as well. Maybe financial compensation?

BTW, I completely agree with PP regarding how those of us that teach younger students are held in less esteem than those who teach older students....Also about male teachers. Someone made a similar comment to me about a collegue, who I think is a great teacher, but doesn't have even close to the number of responsibilities that some of my closest female friends at school have. If my Head made a comment like that to me, I think that I would have to use every fiber of my being not to cry out of frustration!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A topic that I find so frustrating. If good teachers are valued, then why aren't they rewarded financially and with praise? Those who teach the younger students are valued the least. Most infuriating? You could be the best teacher in the world, but if a male teacher does one excellent lesson or coordinates one event, he is immediately valued more than a female teacher. Male teachers are valued more at every single school. A good fourth grade teacher is given a pat on the back, but a good male teacher is asked to move into administration. Last but not least, tell me how many young teaching mothers out there are valued? My head recently told me how she was so impressed with how much energy on of the male teachers at our school had, that he could be at school early, coordinate a ton of events, teach his heart out and still have tons of energy. I just nodded. What I wanted to say was Yes, it is incredible how much energy you have when you have someone else, say a wife, getting the kids up in the morning, getting them dressed, making lunches, and making dinner for everyone while still working full time.

Love my job. Wish more good teachers were recognized, wish more bad teachers were fired, wish my school would ask these questions.

the US is especially bad this way. When I travel to Europe, especially Italy, when people find out I am a teacher, they are so respectful. Teaching is exhausting, difficult work that requires a customized approach to each kid. (and I agree 100% on the preference for male Tteachers. And, a tall male teacher? both the kids and the administration fawn on these)

. So true. Male teachers in education are valued ten times more than female teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say people do not carry much about happiness of the staff. It is all about the kids at the end of the day. In any case, I had limited interaction with staff since our kid has applied this year. We are very happy with the outcome, but we did notice some "long faces" in a couple of schools we visited. Of course not from the ones showing us around, but from random staff. This was very clear at WIS for instance. But again, this was a limited interaction so my experience does not prove anything.

If you are having limited interaction with teachers and admins you are at the wrong school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish somebody would answer the OP's post. I too think experienced but still enthusiastic teachers are best. Which school have this?

Difficult to say isn't it? We aren't familiar with the culture of every school in the area. I don't think that my school has encouraged people to stay as much as it has just not fired anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish somebody would answer the OP's post. I too think experienced but still enthusiastic teachers are best. Which school have this?

What about schools that have experienced But ineffective teachers? Why do we equate tenure with excellence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish somebody would answer the OP's post. I too think experienced but still enthusiastic teachers are best. Which school have this?

What about schools that have experienced But ineffective teachers? Why do we equate tenure with excellence?

well, yes, of course I want to hear about schools with experienced and effective teachers. I don't think anybody wants to learn (except to avoid) schools with experenced sbut worn out and ineffective teachers

Certainly if you can keep your enthusiasm, experience has to help. Or do you believe that teaching is such a horrible job that experience will wear them all down and kill their minds until they become ineffective?

[Anonymous]

No I think that people think that older teachers are better teachers which is not true.

[Anonymous]

OP yes it is important. I think we do a good job as parents to show teachers that we appreciate them. I dnt know what the Head of School does though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of the many metrics than can be used to assess private schools, staff happiness is a key one. What are your views on turnover and overall happiness of those that run the schools that our kids attend?

It depends on the reasons for turnover. If there is turnover because the administration thinks that the teachers are not the best representatives of the school's vision then the administration should get rid of those teachers. It is best to be honest with the parents though so as to avoid anger and confusion when the teacher is let go. Or else encurage an early retirement!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of the many metrics than can be used to assess private schools, staff happiness is a key one. What are your views on turnover and overall happiness of those that run the schools that our kids attend?

It depends on the reasons for turnover. If there is turnover because the administration thinks that the teachers are not the best representatives of the school's vision then the administration should get rid of those teachers. It is best to be honest with the parents though so as to avoid anger and confusion when the teacher is let go. Or else encurage an early retirement!

Staff turnover is good as long as it isn't a surprise. Everyone knows who are the weak teachers in the school either through teacher or parent complaints. Staff will be happy if they know boundaries and expectations. They will be unhappy if there aren't any boundaries or expectations set and the turnover appears sudden and without cause. To a degree you will always have some staff that is unhappy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of the many metrics than can be used to assess private schools, staff happiness is a key one. What are your views on turnover and overall happiness of those that run the schools that our kids attend?

It depends on the reasons for turnover. If there is turnover because the administration thinks that the teachers are not the best representatives of the school's vision then the administration should get rid of those teachers. It is best to be honest with the parents though so as to avoid anger and confusion when the teacher is let go. Or else encurage an early retirement!

Staff turnover is good as long as it isn't a surprise. Everyone knows who are the weak teachers in the school either through teacher or parent complaints. Staff will be happy if they know boundaries and expectations. They will be unhappy if there aren't any boundaries or expectations set and the turnover appears sudden and without cause. To a degree you will always have some staff that is unhappy.

Everyone knows except for the administrator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A topic that I find so frustrating. If good teachers are valued, then why aren't they rewarded financially and with praise? Those who teach the younger students are valued the least. Most infuriating? You could be the best teacher in the world, but if a male teacher does one excellent lesson or coordinates one event, he is immediately valued more than a female teacher. Male teachers are valued more at every single school. A good fourth grade teacher is given a pat on the back, but a good male teacher is asked to move into administration. Last but not least, tell me how many young teaching mothers out there are valued? My head recently told me how she was so impressed with how much energy on of the male teachers at our school had, that he could be at school early, coordinate a ton of events, teach his heart out and still have tons of energy. I just nodded. What I wanted to say was Yes, it is incredible how much energy you have when you have someone else, say a wife, getting the kids up in the morning, getting them dressed, making lunches, and making dinner for everyone while still working full time.

Love my job. Wish more good teachers were recognized, wish more bad teachers were fired, wish my school would ask these questions.

the US is especially bad this way. When I travel to Europe, especially Italy, when people find out I am a teacher, they are so respectful. Teaching is exhausting, difficult work that requires a customized approach to each kid. (and I agree 100% on the preference for male Tteachers. And, a tall male teacher? both the kids and the administration fawn on these)

. So true. Male teachers in education are valued ten times more than female teachers

Yep. It is absolutely infuriating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:be careful what you look at, there are some real dud teachers at our school that we wish would leave but will probably be there until our kids graduate.

LMAO

Ours too. Why don't they get rid of the duds? Isn't that what we pay tuition for? The best teachers?