Title

Methods to Attract and Retain Talented Professional Teaching Staff in Early Childhood Education

Author

Nicole J. Robbins, Concordia University, St. Paul

Date of Award

2001

Document Type

Non Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education

Program

Early Childhood Education

Capstone Instructor

Lynn Gehrke

Second Reader

Trish Anderson

Keywords

early childhood education, retention, training, staffing

Abstract

There are several indicators of quality early childhood educational programs, including: group size, environment, teacher training, and staff to child ratios. One of the main factors impacting quality, is the stability of a program's early childhood educators. Directors can have a positive impact on their program's quality by focusing time, energy and resources on their efforts to recruit and retain talented early childhood educators, reducing employee turnover. Strategies for recruiting and retaining early childhood educators, including ways to become an employer of choice, use of merit-based pay programs, employee training programs, low cost and no cost employee incentives and creative benefit programs are explored. Using the retention strategies outlined, early childhood leaders can have a positive impact on their program's work environment, increase morale, reduce turnover of early childhood educators, and thereby increase the quality of care for children.

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