Why Great Teachers Quit
And How We Might Stop the Exodus
- Katy Farber - Rumney Memorial School
"In this lively and interesting book, Katy Farber makes public the real reasons why inexperienced teachers rarely stay long enough or get the support they need to become good, why good teachers don't become great, and why great teachers quit."
—Deborah Meier, Educational Reformer, Writer, and Activist
"This book is for every parent who has had their child's teacher leave in the middle of the year, every administrator who marvels at the difficulty of teacher retention or team spirit, every policy maker ready to walk the walk, and anyone who has invested years in preparation for a career in the classroom only to be faced with the thought of cutting his or her losses."
—Esmé Raji Codell, Author of Educating Esmé
Learn why today's best teachers are leaving—from the teachers themselves.
Podcasts: 
Education Talk Radio: 4/6/2011
Low pay, increased responsibilities, and high-stakes standardized testing—these are just some of the reasons why more talented teachers are leaving the profession than ever before. Drawing on in-depth interviews with teachers all over the country, Katy Farber presents an in-the-trenches view of the classroom exodus and uncovers ways that schools can turn the tide.
Farber's findings paint a sometimes shocking picture of life in today's schools, taking a frank look at
- Challenges to teacher endurance, including tight budgets, difficult parents, standardized testing, unsafe schools, inadequate pay, and lack of respect
- Strategies veteran teachers use to make sure the joys of teaching outweigh the frustrations
- Success stories from individual schools and districts that have found solutions to these challenges
- Recommendations for creating a school environment that fosters teacher retention
Featuring clear analysis and concrete suggestions for administrators and policy makers, Why Great Teachers Quit takes you to the front lines of the fight to keep great teachers where they belong: in the classroom.
Podcasts
Katy Farber's interview about why great teachers quit on EduTalk. Listen here. (38 minutes)
Katy Farber's insightful 36-minute interview with Jane Lindholm on Vermont Public Radio.
Click here to read Katy Farber's thoughts on "The Problem of the Disappearing Teacher and How to Solve It" in the Huffington Post.
Katy recently did an in-depth interview with EducationDegree.com. Watch it:
| Effects on School Climate |
| Effects on Curriculum |
| Effects on Teaching Schedules and Learning Outcomes |
| Effects on Students |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| The Silver Lining: Personally Fulfilling |
| Hope on the Horizon: Reevaluating Our Standardized-Testing Culture |
| Additional Resources |
| Big Problem #1: Violence |
| Big Problem #2: Unsafe Schools |
| Small Problems That Add Up |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| Hope on the Horizon: Cities Adopt the Precautionary Principle |
| Success Stories: Green Schools |
| Additional Resources |
| Unrealistic Expectations |
| The Time Crunch: Do More With Less |
| Professional Development That Doesn't Speak to Real Concerns |
| The Threat to Health and Well-Being |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| Success Stories: Professional Learning Communities and Collaboration Time |
| The Silver Lining: Challenging and Always Changing |
| Additional Resources |
| Field Trips: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished |
| Committees: The Death of Creative Ideas |
| Purchase Orders and Closed Budgets |
| Scheduling: Not Ideal for Students or Teachers |
| Policy: Lack of Input |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| Success Stories: Real Life Integrated Learning |
| The Silver Lining: Making a Difference |
| Additional Resources |
| Struggling to Make Ends Meet |
| Paying for School Supplies |
| A Culture of Disrespect |
| The Martyr System: Do More for Free |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| Success Stories: A Decent Working Wage |
| Hope on the Horizon: Teacher Pay and Respect in New York and Other States |
| The Silver Lining: Helping Children Learn and Grow |
| Additional Resources |
| Unrealistic Demands and No Limits |
| My Child Is Always Right |
| Helicopter Parents: Micromanaging the Classroom |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| Success Stories: Partnering to Help a Child Read and Participate |
| The Silver Lining: Contributing to a Community Over Time |
| Additional Resources |
| The Pressure Cooker of the Principalship |
| Pressure From Parents |
| Testing Pressure |
| Time Pressure |
| Mentors Help Principals, Too |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| Success Stories: Principal Mentors Make a Difference |
| Additional Resources |
| Shared Leadership |
| Uses and Abuses of Power |
| Recommendations for Administrators and Teacher Leaders |
| Words of Wisdom From Veteran Teachers |
| Success Stories: School Board, Administrator, and Teacher Teams |
| The Silver Lining: Buoyed by a Supportive Community |
| Hope on the Horizon: Teaming Up With Teachers |
| Additional Resources |
"This book is a must-read for every principal, school board member, and policy maker concerned about teacher turnover. Farber does an excellent job framing the problems. Now the question is: What are we willing to do to stem the exodus of great teachers from our schools?"
“This book is for every parent who has had their child’s teacher leave in the middle of the year, every administrator who marvels at the difficulty of teacher retention or team spirit, every policy maker ready to walk the walk, and anyone who has invested years in preparation for a career in the classroom only to be faced with the thought of cutting his or her losses.”
“In this lively and interesting book, Katy Farber makes public the real reasons why inexperienced teachers rarely stay long enough or get the support they need to become good, why good teachers don’t become great, and why great teachers quit.”
"A timely book about a major crisis affecting our schools and real solutions to keep our best teachers in the classroom."
"Finally, a book written by a practicing teacher who really understands what it is like to teach in today's schools: the demands, challenges, and rewards. Joining her are the voices of teachers from all over the country who have come together to share their stories and wisdom. Written with passion and insight, this is an excellent resource for anyone vested in improving education and keeping quality teachers in the classroom. This book should be required reading for every administrator and school board member."
"This book can remind those who teach why we do so, not only reconnect us with our core beliefs, but also to motivate us to speak up beyond our individual classrooms on behalf of the well-being of our students and the ultimate success of public schools."
