ATPE News is the official publication of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, the largest educator association in Texas. The magazine addresses the most important issues affecting public education in the state. Learn more at ATPE.org.
Issue link: https://atpe.epubxp.com/i/435977
40 | atpe.org atpe news to provide the same degree of guidance to the newer teachers he works with. For Dixon, too, working with his students is what sustains him most in his career. As he says, "Teaching provides an excellent opportunity to make the world a better place, one student at a time." Certainly, some attrition is to be expected in any profession. And teaching is inherently a tough career—there will always be people who are not ft for the challenge. Should we just accept turnover as an unavoidable part of the profession? To some extent, yes. But teacher attrition is 4 percent higher than in other professions. And turnover in teaching has a higher price than in most other felds—literally. Certifying and training more new teachers every year is an expensive endeavor. The State of Texas alone spends more than $100 million annually on recruiting and certifying new teachers. But students pay the highest price. Studies have shown that frequent teacher turnover has a direct effect on student success. If we want our students to succeed, we need to keep their teachers in the classroom. When asked what could be done to improve their working conditions, dissatisfed teachers offered a variety of suggestions— greater support from mentors, better communication with administrators, and a lighter load for teachers in their frst few years. Teachers in all Texas schools face some version of the challenges identifed in this article, but whether they can stay the course often depends on how great those challenges are and the amount and quality of support they have access to. The support measures shown to have the greatest infuence on teacher attrition are a mentor from the same feld, routine scheduled collaboration with other teachers, and regular opportunities for supportive communication with the principal. Richard Ingersoll's research shows that schools that provide new teachers with comprehensive orientation and guidance including these elements can reduce attrition by half. But what about Emily? After dreaming of being a teacher since she was a child, is one bad year really enough to drive her away? Not entirely. She plans to leave her job but wants to continue her career in education. So, is she optimistic about the future of education in Texas? There is a long silence. "Yes. The students have plenty of potential." continued from page 19 continued from page 22 on campus. They're not sitting ducks if a shooter comes in. We grew up with guns, and we've taught our kids to respect them. Kacey learned to shoot when she was just seven or eight years old out squirrel hunting with her dad. We've taught our kids how to use guns safely and I'm confdent that the people who have been selected to carry guns on campus will know when and how to use them." Kacey Maines and one of her best friends, Ashleigh Edge, have seen big changes in security during their years at Carthage ISD. The doors to every school are now locked, and visitors need credentials to enter. Drug dogs frequently walk the halls. It's their new reality. "We have lockdown drills so we'll know what to do if there's an armed intruder," says Kacey. "We lock the doors, we cover the windows so that no one can see in, and we sit in a corner with the lights out. When we do that, I like knowing someone has a gun on campus. It makes me feel safe." Get connected and stay up to date on ATPE members, education news, and special events. Our social media channels are a great place to share your opinions, post your photos, and keep in touch with your colleagues. It's just another way ATPE is your ally and your voice. @OfcialATPE JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA!