Retention for a Change

Dr. Joseph Jones​ is the Superintendent of the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District in Delaware. Joe is a former high school social studies teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Dr. Salome Thomas-EL​ has been a teacher and principal in Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE since 1987. He is currently the Head of School at Thomas Edison Public Charter School in Wilmington, DE. Dr. Thomas J. Vari ​is the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools and District Operations in the Appoquinimink School District in Delaware. He is a former middle school assistant principal and principal and former high school English teacher and department chair.

Foreword by Starr Sackstein

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Retaining Your Best Teachers

Pembroke High School

Chapter One: Learning to Lift

The Retention Accelerators

The Right Resources

Career Development

Deeper Dive: Teacher Titles, Pay Scales, and Micro-Credentialing

Chapter One Guiding Questions

Chapter Two: Intrinsic Empowerment

Practitioner Spotlight: Amy Fast

Motivation at Work

Discretionary Effort

Celebrations

Technical Tip: A Model for Specific Praise

Chapter Two Guiding Questions

Chapter Three: Dealing with the Depths of Despair

Practitioner Spotlight: Basil Marin

Inspiration at Work

Happiness

Purpose

Technical Tip: Dogs and Lizards and Monkeys, Oh, My!

Chapter Three Guiding Questions

Chapter Four: Talent + Enthusiasm

Practitioner Spotlight: Jessica Grant

Energy at Work

Delegation

Modeling

Technical Tip: OWN IT

Chapter Four Guiding Questions

Chapter Five: Accelerated Acclimation for New Teachers

New Hire Support

Onboarding

Day One

Leadership Team Activity--Accelerated School Acclimation Program (A.S.A.P.)

Standing Out--What Ownership Looks Like in Action--Angela Socorso

Chapter Five Guiding Questions

Chapter Six: Quality Mentors

Mentoring Programs

Assigning the Right People

Ongoing Support

Leadership Team Activity--Mentoring Teams

Standing Out--What Commitment Looks Like in Action--Candice Inniss

Chapter Six Guiding Questions

Chapter Seven: Conclusion--Cultivating a Membership Mentality