Improving Teacher Retention Within Archdiocese of Washington Schools

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of teacher retention for the Archdiocese of Washington Schools and to design training to address the problem. Specifically, this study solicited input from teachers to help define and or identify (1) the need for teacher retention, (2) what type of school environment they work in, and (3) how a school environment affects teacher retention. Individual teacher and focus group interviews were conducted, and a survey was utilized for data collection and analysis. The measurement instruments captured data on target teachers regarding school environment/climate and job retention, specifically, years in the field and years at the exact location. The data collected is helping develop training that will address teacher retention and develop strategies from data collected, to enhance the work environment for teachers to aid in teacher retention and the overall quality of school life for all stakeholders