As teacher turnover climbs in Memphis, lower-performing schools face a deepening staffing crisis
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Every time Hunter Sandlin ran the air conditioner in his fourth grade classroom at Willow Oaks Elementary School, water would pour out onto the floor. “Turning off the air conditioner wasn’t really…
Memphis schools face a severe staffing crisis due to a surge in teacher turnover. Nearly 20% of educators resigned from the district in 2024, compared to around 12% statewide. The high turnover is particularly troubling in low-performing and predominantly Black schools, where high teacher turnover is linked to declining test scores and lower achievement in math and reading.
Willow Oaks Elementary School is one of the schools experiencing this crisis. Fourth-grade teacher Hunter Sandlin left his position at the end of the last school year due to recurring classroom issues, including an ongoing water leak, outdated desks, and a shortage of textbooks. Sandlin reported that he had only 23 books for 42 students.
Research has shown that high teacher turnover negatively impacts student performance, especially in schools facing persistent learning gaps. In Memphis, schools with the most persistent learning gaps tend to have the highest teacher turnover rates.
MSCS, the Memphis City Schools, lost approximately two-thirds of its teachers in the 2024-25 school year. One ten-year veteran social studies teacher left due to constantly changing district policies, while an early-career elementary teacher quit because there wasn't enough support for student behavior. The district has hosted seven job fairs this year, but only 35% of school leaders reported that every teaching position was filled and in place by the first day of class, down from 41% the previous year.
Superintendent Roderick Richmond acknowledged the district's efforts to raise teacher salaries by 2% and offer $1,000 bonuses to retain teachers. However, he acknowledged the challenges, stating that there are various factors to consider in retaining teachers. High response rates are essential for addressing teacher concerns, and some educators fear facing consequences for speaking out, as noted by JC Bowman, director of the Professional Educators of Tennessee advocacy group.
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