TPS Asking Early If Teachers Plan To Stay Or Go

The Tulsa school superintendent is taking a new approach to teacher retention with an attempt to find out early if teachers and principals plan to stay or go.

TPS has 13 open spots for teachers right now, in the middle of the year, and they'll have more turnovers this summer.

Add in the budget cuts that are coming and TPS is expecting a tough year for hiring, so they're getting a head start.

In a video TPS posted on YouTube, Dr. Deborah Gist used a little music to get some attention for a serious issue, teacher retention, and the usual problem of not knowing whether teachers will return next year.

"And we want to make sure we know how to get started as soon as possible hiring for any vacancies we might have," Gist said.

Tulsa Public Schools is taking the extra step this year of asking teachers now if they'll return next year, so they can start hiring for positions right now.

Gist said, “We need to know so that we can prepare and we can begin our hiring process and plan for that. But the other thing I was trying to accomplish was to make sure our teachers know how much we want them to stay, how much they matter and how much we value them being a part of our team.”

TPS sent out a survey to teachers, asking for non-binding commitments for next year.

“Hope that you'll fill it out, to give us a sense for whether you intend to be back or if other plans are in your future,” Gist said in the video.

She said the music is just another way to lighten the mood for teachers, who are feeling the weight of budget cuts and tough times in the classroom.

"We've lost a lot of teachers, we've lost a lot in Tulsa; we've lost a lot in Oklahoma," Gist said.

If you'd like to refer someone to TPS, you can find information here.