Teacher recruitment and retention remain persistent challenges for rural school systems. Geographic isolation, a smaller labor pool, and limited resources can make it difficult not only to hire qualified educators but also to create the working conditions that help teachers stay.
To support rural leaders tackling these challenges, REL Southwest created a new infographic featuring evidence-based strategies that principals and district leaders can use to strengthen the educator workforce. The infographic highlights practical actions to (1) tailor recruitment and retention approaches, (2) support teacher well-being and working conditions, and (3) build partnerships with community organizations and local leaders to strengthen staffing pipelines.
The infographic is drawn from Ask an Expert: Rural Teacher Recruitment and Retention, a recent product developed through REL Southwest’s Ask an Expert service. This service provides rapid-turnaround, research-based information to state and local education leaders on high-leverage topics. For this Ask an Expert request, local education leaders in Louisiana sought research-informed strategies that could help rural schools address common hiring and retention challenges.
“School district leaders are busy, and providing helpful strategies in an at-a-glance format can help guide them as they think about and set policies for their teacher recruitment and retention efforts,” noted Cheryl Krohn, a senior technical assistance consultant at AIR supporting REL Southwest.
Implementation underway: Theory to practice in a rural district network
In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education and St. Helena Parish School District, REL Southwest is supporting St. Helena Parish and other rural school districts in Louisiana through a network focused on evidence-based strategies to improve teacher recruitment and retention.
Network participants will include superintendents, human resources directors, principals, and other key decisionmakers who influence hiring and retention policies. By bringing together similar districts, the network aims to support collaborative problem-solving and shared learning. This effort can help districts strengthen recruitment pipelines and retention efforts without creating competition among rural systems.
The meeting materials will be posted on the REL Southwest website so additional rural districts can adapt the tools and activities for local use, extending the resource’s reach and sustainability.
Explore related resources from REL Southwest
For more information on rural teacher recruitment and retention and REL Southwest’s work in Louisiana, explore:
- Resource: Ask an Expert: Rural Teacher Recruitment and Retention
- Blog post: Strengthening the educator workforce: A Q&A with education leaders in Louisiana
- Blog post: Partnering to support early career and aspiring teachers in Louisiana
- Blog post: Louisiana launches statewide educator recruitment and retention recommendations
