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Shawnee Mission HR reports rising retention, targeted recruiting and new employee supports
Summary
District human-resources leaders told the Board of Education that recruitment, retention and employee experience efforts produced measurable gains this year, including higher retention rates for classified and certified staff and steps to expand financial-wellness and mentoring supports.
The Shawnee Mission School District’s human-resources team reported to the Board of Education that retention improved this year and outlined recruiting practices aimed at diversifying and supporting staff.
In a presentation described as a program update, Dr. Higgins and HR directors laid out recruitment tactics, mentoring and onboarding programs, and survey-based “retention drivers” the district is using to keep employees. "Our recruitment efforts are designed to stand out and make a splash by grabbing attention, drawing people in, and showing them that SMSD is the place to be," the presentation said.
Why it matters: Higher retention helps preserve instructional continuity and reduces costs and disruption caused by turnover. The HR team tied specific practices — like New Teacher Academy, mentoring, school visits by HR staff, and follow-up handwritten notes to prospective hires — to measurable retention gains and said it will target additional supports on financial well-being.
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