February 05, 2026

The Secret to Finding and Retaining High-Quality Teachers

Are you wondering where you will find the next generation of teachers for your school? You might find yourself searching far and wide to recruit and hire… but the good news is that reality is much simpler. Many of the teachers who will work in your school in the future are sitting in your classrooms today.

Consider the following:

More than 60% of teachers work in the same state where they grew up.
More than half of early-career teachers work within 15 miles of where they grew up.
More than 75% work within 40 miles of their childhood home.
Approximately 75% of teacher applications are for jobs within 150 miles of their current residence.
Teachers who work close to home tend to stay in the profession longer.

The implications of this information are both important and useful. First, the quality of the learning experiences that students who will be future teachers have today will likely carry into their expectations and performance in the future. Ensuring high-quality learning today can increase the quality of tomorrow’s teachers.

Second, students who later become teachers often form interests and aspirations well before entering college. Early exposure to teaching opportunities and exploration of what a career in teaching can offer can increase the likelihood that today’s students will choose an educational professional.

Third, because we have access to them now, we can encourage students who may have an interest in teaching and support them in exploring what teaching is like, including the wide variety of roles teachers play in schools. This opportunity can also make our school a location of first choice.

Fourth, students who see themselves in the role of a teacher are more likely to choose to teach. Giving students practical, hands-on experiences (such as having them plan and lead a lesson as part of a project-based learning activity) can help them to see the possibilities for themselves.

Fifth, we can structure formal experiences through career pathway programs, internships, and apprenticeships to increase the knowledge and confidence students bring to their career decisions. Importantly, these programs are most effective when formal, skills-based learning opportunities are integrated in these experiences.

Sixth, when students have developed teaching-related experiences, skills, knowledge, and confidence, they are likely to find greater success in post-secondary programs and be better prepared for the reality and rewards of teaching when they enter the profession.

Finding and hiring teachers to serve our students is challenging. However, with long-term planning and investment in today’s students, we can increase our potential to hire teachers who understand our community and students, are well-prepared to enter the profession, and who will stay longer.

Visit our Paraeducator Career and Technical Education Pathway page to see how this program for high school students aligns with your school’s Grow-Your-Own program!

References:

Blaushild, N. L., Mackevicius, C., & Wigger, C. (2023). Investigating the “draw of home” and

teachers’ career decisions. EdWorkingPaper No. 23-826, Annenberg Brown University. https://doi.org/10.26300/rcph-kq59

Edwards, W., Kirksey, J. J., Burden, K. Q. L., & Miller, A. (2024). Teaching close to home:

Exploring new teachers' geographic employment patterns and retention outcomes. Teaching and Teacher Education, 145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104606