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Teacher champions group reports on retention work; EPIC survey guided focus on communication, PD and mental health
Summary
A district champions group and HR staff told the board about work to identify strategies to retain teachers, citing EPIC survey results and three focus areas: communication, professional development and student behavior/mental health supports.
At a Topeka Public Schools Board of Education meeting, teacher Kelly Roberts and HR staff outlined work by a district "champions" group formed to address teacher retention and engagement based on local feedback and the statewide EPIC survey.
Kelly Roberts, a fifth-grade teacher at Scott Dual Language Magnet who has taught in the district for 11 years, described the champions group process. After selection in the fall, group members reviewed focus-group data, brainstormed reasons for teacher attrition and organized into smaller teams to draft goal statements and actionable items. Roberts said her team’s focus was communication; other teams worked on professional development and student behavior and mental-health supports.
Roberts said the champions met with principals and other district staff to gather practices and that the groups planned to present final recommendations to district administration after refining goals and action steps. She said time constraints have delayed completion for some teams and that the group hoped to present recommendations before the end of the school year.
HR staff said the champions work was informed by the EPIC survey, a statewide staff engagement instrument given every two years. HR staff explained the district had run local focus groups for teachers in years four through 11 because statewide data shows that cohort is most likely to leave the profession. HR leaders listed six takeaways from sessions with new teachers and with teachers in years 4–11, including refining onboarding, strengthening mentorships, differentiating professional development, clarifying curriculum expectations, improving communication and supporting work–life balance and mental-health resources.
HR said next steps include completing goal statements, soliciting feedback from district administration and presenting final recommendations. No formal board vote was required for the report; the presentation constituted discussion and planning direction for staff.
