Kansas education leaders at K-State Nov. 25 for teacher Retention Summit
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019
Teacher retention in the state of Kansas is the topic of the Retention Summit on Nov. 25 at Kansas State University. The summit is sponsored by the Professional Standards Board and the Kansas State Department of Education.
MANHATTAN — Education leaders from across Kansas will convene Nov. 25 at Kansas State University for the third annual Retention Summit to address the critical issues of teacher recruitment and retention. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the K-State Alumni Center.
Hosted by the K-State College of Education, the Retention Summit is sponsored by the Professional Standards Board and the Kansas State Department of Education. The event brings together members of the Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State Board of Education, Kansas Association of School Boards, elected officials and school administrators to address the most critical issue facing the profession: teacher retention. Registration details are available at https://www.EducateKansas.org.
Three keynote presenters, nine breakout sessions and a closing panel will provide attendees with both detailed and comprehensive views of the complex issues surrounding teacher supply.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson will deliver the first keynote address, "Teacher Attrition and Retention in Kansas," at 9:30 a.m.
"I truly believe that teaching is one of the greatest professions, and teachers do so many wonderful things for our schools and communities," Watson said. "Recruiting and retaining quality teachers isn't just a Kansas issue — it is something all states are facing. The summit is the perfect opportunity to learn, problem-solve and have meaningful conversations to help address this challenge."
Tuan Nguyen, K-State College of Education assistant profession of curriculum and instruction, will present "A Case Study of Geographically Rural States with Persistent Teacher Shortages" at 10:15 a.m.
Nguyen will provide comparative data concerning teacher salary, attrition rates and identify the teachers most likely to switch schools or leave the profession, as well as those who are most likely to remain in their positions. He will conclude by outlining the three factors known to reduce the likelihood of teacher attrition.
Colleen O'Neil, Colorado State Department of Education associate commissioner of educator talent, will present the final keynote, "Statewide Collaboration of Workforce and Educational Entities," at 11 a.m.
Debbie Mercer, dean of the K-State College of Education and past chair of the Kansas Department of Education's Professional Standards Board, said this summit builds on the national trends discussed at last year's event.
"The summit is an opportunity for education leaders to gather in one place and address our profession's collective challenge head-on," Mercer said. "We all have the same goal: developing a robust pipeline of highly qualified teachers for the half-million students we are entrusted to educate. So how do we get there? By arming education leaders with statistical and anecdotal data and identifying the logical path forward."
The summit concludes with a panel discussion including Glen Suppes, 2019 Kansas Superintendent of the Year; Deb Scheibler, executive director of Kansas WorkforceONE; and Kathy Busch, chair of the Kansas State Board of Education. Brad Neuenswander, deputy commissioner of education, will serve as moderator.
The following are the breakout sessions offered at the summit:
• Education as an Economic Development Engine in Kansas
• Early-Career Teachers: Our Story
• Educators Rising: A Student Organization for Your Teaching Career Pathway
• The Kansas Educational Leadership Institute: Making a Difference for Kansas Leaders
• Kansas Teachers of the Year: Why I Stay
• Career/Vocational Licenses and More
• HR Innovative Recruitment strategies
• Improving Kansas Teacher Education: Voices from First-Year Teachers and Their Employers
• Career Pathways: Success Stories
