PSS teacher turnover rate higher than nat’l average

Teacher turnover in the CNMI Public School System is slightly higher than the national average, according to Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos.

She said the turnover rate in local public schools is 11.5 percent during a five-year period covering 2002-2006. In contrast, the rate at private schools in the Commonwealth ranks lower than the U.S. average at 16 percent.

In a letter to the chairperson of the Board of Education’s Fiscal, Personnel, and Administration Committee, Inos noted that the turnover rate recorded in school year 2001 to 2002 was 8.9 percent, while in 2002 to 2003 it rose to 12.7 percent.

In 2003 to 2004, the turnover rate decreased to 10.9 percent; in 2004 to 2005 it again rose to a whopping 14.5 percent. The turnover rate plunged to 11.3 percent in 2005 to 2006.

Inos, however, rebutted the argument made by Teacher Representative Ambrose Bennett, who earlier stated that PSS has an unstable teacher workforce because of its high turnover rate.

“We reject the argument made by Mr. Bennett…as that is factually incorrect,” she said.

Inos further rejected Bennett’s tenure proposal, saying they run contrary to current Board of Education policy. Inos said that, based on latest studies on how to recruit, retain, and reward highly qualified teachers, Bennett’s proposal would create more problems in the future rather than solve them.

“Instead, we propose a system of teacher certification that aligns the contract length with the type of certificate earned for two, three, and five years and a system that offers mentoring, focused professional development, and performance-based compensation,” said Inos.

As for the turnover rate of teachers, she said PSS should follow best practices as delineated by the Education Commission of the United States that include: mentoring of novice teachers, focused professional development for all teachers, performance-based compensation that is directly linked to high student achievement and school achievement.

“We note that Mr. Bennett’s proposal provides no evidence that tenure produces higher student achievement, no evidence of lower teacher turnover rates, and no evidence that bonding has any lasting impact on student achievement or any proof that tenure will raise morale,” said Inos.

Bennett, however, stands pat on his December 2005 proposal that “tenure” is the best way for the PSS to ensure that it has highly qualified teachers under its employ.

“Tenure ensures that we [the CNMI] have ‘highly qualified’ teachers,” he said.

Bennett said that tenure was also the preferred mechanism of educational institutions for maintaining a steady workforce. He pointed out that tenure is supported by the National Education Association, the Teacher Gazette, the Public School Parent’s Network, and the National Association of State Boards of Education.

He said the decision to proceed with a tenure plan for PSS teachers “shouldn’t be that complicated,” especially when all the major institutions of higher learning and every teacher in the public schools of America are under some form of tenure system.

“Our PSS teachers are the only exception in America’s public schools,” he said, adding that the failure to plan for a highly qualified and stable workforce will ultimately lead to failure.