Introduction
Teacher turnover is one of the most expensive problems a child care center has. Every departure means overtime, ratio scrambles, recruiting costs, and families who notice when their child’s teacher keeps changing. These steps help keep good teachers longer.
Many new teachers decide whether to stay in their first few weeks. Pair each new hire with an experienced teacher, give them a written schedule for their first two weeks, and have the director check in at 30, 60, and 90 days.
Teachers stay longer when they can see how to grow. Publish a simple pay ladder that ties raises to milestones, such as earning a CDA credential, finishing college credits, or moving from assistant to lead. Sponsoring the CDA costs less than replacing a teacher.
Skipped breaks and no planning time burn teachers out fast. Build a floater into your schedule so breaks happen every day, and give lead teachers at least some weekly planning time out of ratio.
Teachers often leave because of how they’re managed. A director who is in classrooms daily, gives regular feedback, and backs teachers up with families keeps more staff. If one center has much higher turnover than your others, start by looking at leadership.
Last-minute schedule changes push teachers toward jobs with steadier hours. Post schedules at least two weeks out, and offer a set shift when you can.
Recognition costs little and goes a long way. Share family compliments with the whole team, celebrate work anniversaries, and thank teachers by name in staff meetings.
Hold short stay interviews with your best teachers once or twice a year: what keeps you here, and what might make you leave? Do exit interviews with everyone who resigns. Look for patterns across several conversations before making changes.
Turnover often starts with the wrong hire. Be honest in interviews about the hard parts of the job, include a classroom observation, and look for candidates whose experience matches the age group and schedule you need. Our preschool teacher interview questions can help.
Sponsoring the CDA costs less than replacing a teacher.
Even well-run centers lose teachers. Hire Up Recruiting is a preschool recruiting agency that works only in early childhood education and helps schools fill classrooms with qualified teachers, often within weeks. Book a call with our team.
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