Fostering Relationships to Increase Teacher Retention in Urban Schools

Wong (2003) purports that it takes between five and seven years to develop an effective teacher, yet the attrition rate of teachers in urban schools implies that over half the teachers leave before they are fully developed. Consequently, many students in urban schools are denied the opportunity to learn from master teachers. This study examines critical components that cause teachers to remain teaching in urban schools past the five year attrition mark. The results of this qualitative study indicate the need for school leaders to draw from occupational research and provide environments in which teachers are supported and regarded as valued decision-makers in their schools. The results reveal the importance of human relationships in the retention and growth of urban teachers.