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