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SHSU TEACHER RETENTION RATES HIGHER THAN STATE

Five-Year Retention of First-Year Teachers Trend Comparison

100
98.9
96.2
93.9
91.5 91.6
89.3
87.7
84.9
84.2

79.4
78.2

72.5

ccording to “Performance definitely want teachers in classrooms prepared teachers lower than teachers
Analysis for Colleges of that want to be there. At Sam from universities. They get into
AEducation,” a report by the Houston State, we produce teachers a classroom and sometimes feel
Center for Research Evaluation and who care about kids and love doing underprepared.
Advancement of Teacher Education what they’re doing.” Within the first couple of years,
(CREATE), Sam Houston State There are multiple factors that play they find another career path.”
University’s teacher retention rate from into teachers deciding to stay in the Having a program that offers
2012-2016 is 87.7 percent, compared profession or seek out other career diverse experiences helps keep teachers
to the state’s 72.5 percent. options, according to Ellis. in the profession, according to Ellis.
SHSU was tracked along with “A lot of it has to do with if they “We have a great emphasis on
CREATE public universities (79.4 feel called into the profession or they making sure our students have diverse
percent), CREATE private universities have a dedication to serving these kids experiences,” she said. “They have a
(76.4 percent), for-profit Alternative and their families,” she said. “It also range of experiences in the field that
Certification Programs (ACPs) (68.3 has to do with the support they get start as early as the second semester of
percent) and non-profit ACPs (63.3 from their principals, administrators their sophomore year in the field.
percent). and other teachers. Another big factor “When they choose to teach in a
“I really think that teachers is how well they feel they’re doing high-needs school, they know what
staying in the field indicates once they get into the classroom, that looks like and are prepared when
quality,” Christina Ellis, director of which is connected to how well they get there,” she said. “We really
Accreditation and Accountability prepared they are. focus on making sure our students are
Services at SHSU. “We typically don’t “If they get into the classroom and prepared for whichever schools they
see teachers staying in the field that don’t feel prepared, they’re unlikely select.”
don’t enjoy doing what they’re doing to stay there,” she said. “But, if they While Conroe ISD hired 37 SHSU
and don’t really have a passion for it. get in and they feel confident in what teachers in 2015-2016, Houston
“Our teachers staying in the they’re doing then they’re likely to ISD, the closest urban district to
field could show they have found a stay in the profession. I think that’s SHSU, only hired 14. The program is
career that they love,” she said. “We why you see retention in alternatively working to get student teachers more

4 Sam Houston State University | College of Education Annual Report 2017