A Conversation With Ann Mroz
WHAT CAN SCHOOLS DO TO STEM THE TIDE
OF TEACHERS LEAVING?
as pay, two important factors influence
the attractiveness of the teaching
profession: working conditions and
professional development.
There are definitely lessons to learn
from the most successful countries in
Pisa (The Programme for International
Student Assessment). They don’t
overload teachers, but give them the
space for professional development,
treat them as researchers into
pedagogy and give them time to
work with colleagues on developing
the best methods for teaching their
students. In those countries, teaching
is seen as a profession with intellectual
autonomy.
It’s worth mentioning that, in Finland,
one of the highest-performing
nations, retention rates are high, not
because teachers feel trapped, but
because the qualification and the skills
(communication, teamwork