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September 2, 2011

Teacher turnover: New class of educators entering the classroom

Matthew DeFour:

The Madison School District is on pace to add 300 new teachers this year -- the most in at least 19 years.

Already this year, the district has hired 260 new classroom leaders, largely a response to a wave of teacher retirements prompted by a new law curtailing collective bargaining by public employees. Another 40 or so could be added throughout September.

For the thousands of students heading back to school Thursday, the turnover means both the loss of institutional memory and the potential for fresh ideas to reshape the classroom experience, Madison principals say.

"You lose a lot of knowledge around education that's critical to helping kids be successful," said Bruce Dahmen, principal at Memorial High School, which hired about 30 new teachers, including 12 first-timers. "With that change comes new opportunities. (New teachers) sometimes bring a different energy."

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 2, 2011 1:27 AM
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