Fewer DeKalb County teachers resigned during 2015-16 than the previous year, but more work needs to be done to find out why educators are leaving, say school officials.
Leo Brown, the district’s human resources chief, said 471 teachers resigned during this past school year, down from 675 in 2014-15. He called the district’s exit-interview system “antiquated” during Monday’s school board meeting, saying it did little to address why teachers leave.
“It limits our availability to get information,” Brown said. “You have to allow (teachers) … to tell you why they’re leaving.”
Five years ago, retirement was the leading reason teachers were leaving the district. In 2015, the top reason was teachers not renewing their contracts, which wasn’t among the leading reasons until the 2012-13 school year when the system faced a $14 million deficit. Gov. Nathan Deal also replaced the entire board, citing poor management.
In the 2016-17 proposed budget, returning teachers would receive a $500 retention bonus, paid after the school year’s first quarter.
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