Alaska Faces Rising Teacher and Principal Turnover Rates

Data from the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) reveals a significant rise in teacher and principal turnover rates in Alaska, surpassing levels recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight continuing challenges in educator retention and recruitment across the state.

During a recent meeting of the State Board of Education, Dayna DeFeo, director of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research, presented the data, indicating a steady upward trend in turnover rates. “We’re seeing just a fairly steady, consistent upward trend,” DeFeo stated. “We’re going to see this pattern no matter how we splice the data.” In 2024, approximately 17% of teachers and 27% of principals exited their respective school districts, marking a significant increase since 2013.

While turnover rates decreased during the pandemic, the latest statistics indicate a growing concern for Alaska’s educational landscape. The analysis extends previous findings from the Regional Education Laboratory Northwest, which examined turnover rates in 2019 and 2021. Notably, principal turnover tends to exceed that of teachers; however, DeFeo emphasized that this trend varies significantly across different community types.

In rural communities, principals are leaving at a higher rate than teachers, while in urban areas, the opposite is true. Data from 2024 shows that around 30% of teachers in urban schools departed, compared to 21% of principals. This illustrates the complexities of educator turnover, which is not uniform across the state.

Between 2012 and 2021, Alaska’s teacher turnover rates consistently sat above the national average, a trend that has persisted since at least 2020. In response, Alaska has initiated several programs aimed at improving retention, including a teacher apprenticeship program at both the University of Alaska Anchorage and Fairbanks campuses. Additionally, the University of Alaska Southeast plans to launch a principal training program in the upcoming fall.

DeFeo mentioned that her team intends to conduct a survey of teachers in February to better understand the motivations behind their decisions to leave. “What we can see pretty clearly is who stays and who goes. We can do that very accurately,” she noted. “What we don’t know all the time is, why? Why they make those choices.”

The rising turnover rates pose significant implications for the quality of education in Alaska, as the state grapples with the challenge of retaining experienced educators. As efforts continue to address these issues, understanding the underlying factors contributing to turnover will be crucial for developing effective policies and programs.

In summary, the increasing rates of teacher and principal turnover in Alaska highlight a pressing concern for the state’s educational system, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to enhance retention and stability within schools.