Latest news with #BrocktonWestMiddleSchool

Boston Globe

Mass. schools that educate mostly students of color experience the highest teacher turnover

'I did not have the backing and the professional development at the school I needed to be successful,' said Mckeiver, who stayed in the profession but moved to Southbridge Middle School, where he says he now gets the training and support he needs. Related : Advertisement High teacher turnover rates cause 'Oftentimes the places that have the hardest time getting good staff and retaining them are the more challenged schools and school districts,' said Bob Bardwell, executive director of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association. In the 2024-25 school year, state data show in the top quartile of Massachusetts schools serving students of color, where about 30 percent or less of students are white, the teacher turnover rate was two-thirds greater than at those in the bottom quartile, where about 78 percent or more of students are white. The top quartile of schools lost 23 percent of their teachers, versus 14 percent at bottom quartile schools. Advertisement Brockton West Middle School Principal Carlton Campbell has struggled to retain educators. His campus, which largely serves high-needs students, including a majority from low-income households, has seen teacher retention rates decline in the last three years, with only 60 percent of his staff sticking around last school year. Campbell said student behavioral issues have been a leading cause for low teacher retention. Watching a turnstile of teachers has been disheartening, he said, and makes it difficult for school leadership to maintain normalcy for students. 'It's very discouraging because you invest time and work into those individuals,' he said. Related : Students said the high turnover leads to a lack of quality instruction, as most of the replacements are new to the profession. State numbers also show schools that both serve students of color and experienced high turnover often failed to meet state standards on the MCAS tests in math, science, and English. They said they're also less likely to pay attention to class content because adjusting to new faces in the classroom can be a distraction. Jamari Roberson, an eighth-grader at West Middle, said consistency is key for students to bond with their educators, providing them needed security in the classroom. Advertisement 'It makes the relationship stronger between the students and the teachers,' he said. 'Some students need that and don't have that when they go home.' Mckeiver, the Southbridge science teacher, agreed: 'Kids need predictability and consistency to do well.' Mckeiver lays blame for high teacher turnover on state and district leadership, saying they're not doing enough to supply educators with trainings that address cultural competency in working with students from diverse backgrounds. 'The way schools are set up, it's not the teachers' fault,' he said. 'The system has to be set up for you to be consistent.' better connect better with students of color and meet their social and emotional needs. They also want principals to advocate more for their needs with district and state leadership. 'If their heart's not in it, its hard to keep people,' Campbell said. Auzzy Byrdsell can be reached at