Thread by @HughesHaili

I've been writing about experienced teacher retention for five years +
I wrote a book about it in 2020 'Preserving Positivity' & am now writing a book with @Sam_LGibbs 'Love the One You're With.' Every teacher I interview talks about psychological safety and belonging. A 🧵:

Psychological safety, defined as the perception that one can take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences (Edmondson, 1999), is foundational in creating a supportive work environment. What does this look like for teachers?

For teachers, psychological safety allows them to share ideas, voice concerns & seek help without fear of retribution (Frazier et al., 2017). This safety enables open communication, a critical factor for problem-solving and collaboration in schools.

When teachers feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to stay in their roles, as they feel supported and valued by their peers and leader4s. Lack of this can lead to feelings of isolation & stress - significant predictors of teacher burnout and turnover (Collie, 2021).

This also links to belonging. For almost 20 years, I was part of two school communities and I miss this feeling more than anything! Belonging is the feeling of being accepted and valued within a group; it's crucial in building a positive school culture.

Teachers who feel they belong are more engaged, motivated & resilient (Rogers, 2021). Schools that foster a culture of belonging can significantly boost teacher morale and job satisfaction. According to Johnson et al. (2020), a strong sense of belonging is associated with...

...higher levels of commitment and reduced turnover intentions among teachers. In contrast, when teachers feel excluded or undervalued, they are more likely to experience job dissatisfaction, increasing the likelihood of them leaving the profession.

As we all know, teacher retention is a growing concern, with high turnover rates leading to disruption in student learning and increased costs for schools (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2019). Psychological safety and belonging are significant contributors to retention...

...because they address many of the emotional and social needs of teachers. For instance, Skaalvik and Skaalvik (2018) found that teachers who experience a supportive environment marked by psychological safety and belonging report lower levels of stress...

...and excitingly, a greater intention to stay in their roles. Additionally, schools that prioritise these aspects can reduce teacher attrition by fostering a sense of community, mutual respect & collaboration (Hausman et al., 2021).

Obviously PD is hugely important but just focusing on PD is too narrow I feel. Many teachers I speak to are exhausted and have PD fatigue. They speak of the importance of human centred leadership, flexibility and agency.

This interaction between psychological safety and belonging creates a reinforcing effect on teacher retention. When teachers feel safe to express themselves & feel a genuine sense of connection with their colleagues, they're more likely to engage with their work positively...

...and less likely to consider leaving (Roffey, 2020). In essence, psychological safety and belonging address core human needs within schools. The hundreds of teachers we've interviewed who've served 20 years + point to this as a significant factor in their longevity.