| What does it take to catch a teacher? | | | | basis. Others leave for better paying jobs, |
| Nashville Schools and surrounding districts | | | | are let go, or don't meet the license |
| are trying to answer that question. | | | | requirements of the federally mandated No |
| Incentives including pay increases, job | | | | Child Left Behind Act. This can mean that |
| fairs, full time recruiters and on-site child | | | | students in Nashville Schools face |
| care have been implemented as recruiters and | | | | overcrowded classrooms, or are bounced from |
| administrators try to lure good teachers to | | | | teacher to teacher as class sizes are |
| Nashville Schools. The Metro district | | | | balanced. |
| increased starting salaries by $2,000 for the | | | | |
| '06-'07 school year. Did it help? Only 8 | | | | How big is this problem? 50% of teachers |
| positions were left unfilled at year's end, | | | | hired in Tennessee in 2002 had left teaching |
| but the reason for that is still unclear. | | | | by 2006. Not their jobs, the teaching |
| | | | profession. How does this directly impact |
| Even so, the year end scramble to fill the | | | | Nashville Schools? The scramble for teachers |
| slots for next year has already started for | | | | is largely impacted by the attractiveness of |
| most Nashville Schools. Why? 500-600 teachers | | | | the incentives and the atmosphere. |
| retire from Nashville Schools on a yearly | | | | |