Attracting teachers may depend less on convincing them to accept specific school assignments and more on persuading them that the district is an attractive place to build a career. For district leaders trying to fill teacher openings, new research suggests that many applicants are more open to that pitch than leaders expect.
A recent CALDER study challenges conventional assumptions about teacher recruitment. Its most surprising finding is that about 70 percent of applicants for positions across multiple schools were willing to consider opportunities outside their preferred locations. Roughly 40 percent showed interest in any available school, regardless of location.
The study, What Do Educator Job Applications Reveal About Preferences for Schools?, examined applicant-tracking data from 19 school districts. Researchers analyzed both applications to individual schools and preferences expressed when applicants could apply to several schools.
