With teacher and student success undoubtedly connected, it makes sense that the Humboldt County School District (HCSD) is investing in support for teachers.
According to Traci Carbon, HCSD Educator Effectiveness Coordinator, there are 23 teachers who are new to Humboldt County or are brand new to teaching this year. She works with these teachers personally on a monthly or weekly basis to figure out what each of them need to succeed.
“[Teachers’] number one reason for leaving the profession is feeling like they don’t have enough support, so when our new group of teachers came in this year, we said we want to make sure that we really support these folks in all ways,” said Carbon.
Sharing insights, being open to suggestions, and truly connecting are all a part of the process that has created an environment where teachers can ask their own questions, learn new things and not be scared to fail once in a while. Getting teachers “out of their own box” is helping new and veteran teachers to work as a team and setting the HCSD apart from other districts.
Solidarity is a major concern with many teachers and can be especially hard for those that have never taught before or even those who moved to Humboldt County with experience.
“When you go in that room and you close that door it’s you and your students and it can feel very isolating,” said Carbon.
Monthly meetings get teachers connected to each other and to district support, but weekly discussions about immediate concerns, on-site individual coaching, creation of action plans for each teacher, and giving teachers a chance to reflect has shown tremendous difference in support perception, according to Carbon.
Humboldt County Vice Superintendent, Will Jensen, said “I think this is a really positive step for us as a district.”
First grade teacher at Sonoma Heights Elementary School, Kaycee Golden, is new to HCSD this year and explained in an email that having classes and training available before school started gave her an idea about the district’s “vision for the future” and helped her to meet other teachers. Since then, she explained, school leadership still checks in and other teachers and staff at Sonoma have continued to stay connected.
By providing an environment that encourages growth and social connection within the profession itself, the district can “scaffold up teachers” in order to support them, according to Jensen.
“There are some barriers across the state and across the country in recruitment and retention and there are things that are out of our control, but teacher retention is well within our wheelhouse,” said Jensen.