Reality 101: CEC's blog for new teachers

John: Where’d All the Good People Go?

I think the Jack Johnson lyrics in the title for this post describe the state of teacher retention today. Twenty-five percent of beginning teachers leave after three years and 50 percent have left the field after five years. Think about that—25 percent of special education teachers spend less time in their “career” than they spent in college preparing for their career.

Even among the Reality 101 readers and writers, you can hear thoughts of changing professions. Reality 101 blogger Ellen wrote about it two years ago in her blog post. More recently, Charmelle posted about her struggles with burnout just four months ago. It is easy to list the problems: low pay, lack of administrator support, principals who don’t understand what we do, fellow teachers who don’t understand what we do, lack of resources, overcrowded classrooms, IEP caseloads that never end and dealing with parents—difficult parents, absent parents or students who are already parents. But, what can be done despite these issues to keep teachers in the field longer?

Charmelle: Trying to Avoid Burnout, Part One

I must say I love teaching and I truly feel that it is my calling to be a special education teacher. I enjoy the connection that I make with my students and having the opportunity to support them in being successful, but being a special educator can also be very challenging. Underneath all of the paperwork, deadlines, scheduled meetings, writing IEPs and lesson planning, I know so much more could be added to that list and it can become overwhelming, stressful and hectic. At times I feel like I’m performing my own juggling routine and sometimes wonder if I will learn how to better balance all of these tasks.

Ellen: The CEC Convention and My Rapid Metamorphosis

I second Kathy’s “WOW” about our experiences at the CEC 2010 Convention & Expo in Nashville.

The last time I was at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel (which, as Kathy described, is an incredible experience in and of itself!) I got lost while chaperoning teenagers with autism at their senior prom. I was a graduate student at Vanderbilt and my colleagues at Project Opportunity, a job-training program for secondary students with intellectual disabilities, went all-out to ensure two of our students could have a SPECTACULAR (if overwhelming for all three of us) prom experience.

Fast forward more than four years, and I found myself again among the vast beauty of the Gaylord Opryland, only this time as an actual special educator and hotel guest—woah, what a relaxing break from a stressful time of year at school!.

Ellen: 50% in Five Years

That’s the big statistic: According to the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, 50 percent of new teachers in the United States will leave the teaching profession within their first five years.

People like to quote such numbers, I’ve found, and you’ve probably heard it before too. Mostly people who aren’t teachers themselves. Usually people without a solution: complainers, finger-pointers, fire-and-brimstone-invokers who aren’t big fans of our public education system. Or media outlets who like to fan the flames.

But today I quoted that statistic to my principal, when I handed in my intent form for next year. Fifty percent of new teachers leave the profession within five years.

I don’t want to be one of them.