Date

7-8-2025

ESRP 9000 Professor

Gina L. Peyton, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Gina L. Peyton, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

Teacher Retention: Investigating the Causes of and Solutions for High Turnover at a
Local Elementary School. Jugdaw Deepnarain, 2025: Strategic Research Project, Nova
Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of
Criminal Justice. Keywords: competitive compensation, cultural competency,
professional development, strategic planning, work environment
This strategic research project was designed to investigate the root causes of high teacher
turnover at a public elementary school in the southeastern United States and to implement
evidence-based strategies to improve retention. Stabilizing the teaching staff is crucial for
long-term academic success since regular reading instruction is the cornerstone of student
achievement. The school's recruitment and training expenses have gone up, staff morale
has dropped, and instructional consistency has been interrupted due to teacher attrition.
According to a strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats analysis and data-driven
internal and external review, poor pay, excessive workloads, a lack of administrative
assistance, and few prospects for professional advancement are the main causes of
teacher turnover at the school. Four strategic options were evaluated, and the most
practical one was a thorough professional development framework that included
collaborative learning, instructional coaching, and mentoring. Targeted leadership
training and mentorship between seasoned and inexperienced educators were found to be
high-impact treatments.
A quantitative strategic planning matrix was used to evaluate strategy effectiveness, with
mentorship and leadership development scoring the highest total attractiveness score. An
action plan was created that includes evaluating current turnover trends, implementing
professional development sessions, launching a mentorship program, and increasing
administrative responsiveness. A culture of shared leadership should be strengthened,
teacher workload and remuneration standards should be reviewed, and ongoing feedback
loops should be established. It is anticipated that these programs will improve
professional satisfaction, boost teacher retention, and foster a consistent, productive
atmosphere for reading education at the school.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Reading

Language

English

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