Retention at the Roots

Programming for pre-service/intern teachers, early stage educators, and their mentors to cultivate wellness from the start of their career.

Wellness should not be an add on, but foundational.

Educators and leaders can’t wait until they are on the brink to center wellness. We must start at the root. Retention at the Roots is a teacher preparation model that considers the whole person, roots in wellness and anti-racism, and supports educators to find a sustainable pathway to longevity.

We believe that one of the best recruitment strategies is a proactive retention strategy. The more we can equip new teachers with the tools that they need to center their own wellness prior to entering the field, the more resilient and resourceful they will be in the face of challenges in their early years and beyond.  

We are partnering with graduate schools, credentialing and induction programs, as well as early service mentor fellowships and residencies to re-imagine teacher preparation. 

Education is facing a national crisis–we can not recruit enough teachers to the field, and we are struggling to retain them. This is particularly true for diverse candidates. 

Research shows that

“Teachers who do not receive mentoring and support in their first years leave teaching at much higher rates than those whose school or district provides such support.”

*Guha, R., Hyler, M.E., and Darling-Hammond, L. (2016). The Teacher Residency: An Innovative Model for Preparing Teachers. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute.

  • “Appreciate the focus on building practical tools for time management planning, concrete organizers and opportunity for reflection. Prompted me to confront ways that I think about time and task management, what I am valuing and what I am perpetuating in the way that I frame those challenges in my own life.”

    Workshop participant from “Education for Liberation, Justice, and Joy” @ Mills College

  • “Some things I am taking away from The Teaching Well Sessions are how to get better at taking time for myself. Managing stress. Identifying stress-reducing methods/activities”

    Participant from Bunche Academy (OUSD)

  • “[Some things I am taking away from Teaching Well Sessions are] 1) Our humanity is foundational NOT an afterthought. 2) So many breathing exercises and activities are available for and around us in times of stress.”

    Madison Park Academy - Upper (OUSD)

  • “[An idea I’m taking away from this is] If you focus on your own well being you will be a more effective educator with more longevity”

    Participant from “Education for Liberation, Justice, and Joy” @ Mills College

The Teaching Well offers a full suite of programming tailored to pre-service educations and can craft customized sessions for your particular program needs:

Pre-service summer workshops

On-going professional development sessions customized for early stage educators

1:1 or group coaching of supervisors and mentors

Landscape analysis research on the sustainability of your program and retention of your participants

Give your pre-service educators the support that they need to thrive from the start.