Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Tennessee:

Key Findings

Teacher Hiring and Recruitment

• Overall, school leaders reported going into the 2022-23 school year with more hiring needs than in previous years, and those in schools with greater percentages of economically disadvantaged students expressed the greatest challenges with hiring and recruitment.
• Reported pathways and motivations for becoming a teacher varied by race and gender.
  
   

Teacher Retention

• About 8 in 10 teachers reported that they plan to continue teaching in their schools next year, but fewer teachers said that they plan to remain in education careers long-term.
• More early-career teachers, teachers of color, and teachers working in schools serving more economically disadvantaged students reported that they plan to continue teaching in their schools than in 2022. Even with this increase in staying intentions, teachers in these same groups were still more likely than other teachers to say that they plan to transfer schools or exit the teaching profession.
• Early-career teachers who reported feeling more prepared and who said they received mentorship supports were more likely to say that they plan to stay in their schools than early-career teachers who felt unprepared by their educator preparation program or who did not receive early-career supports.