Concerns about the teacher workforce are rising, with fewer teachers recommending the profession and decreasing interest among students. In response, school systems are redesigning teacher roles to make the job more appealing and sustainable. This brief examines early outcomes from the Next Education Workforce™ (NEW) team-based models in Mesa, Arizona, which shift from the traditional “one teacher, one classroom” approach to collaborative teams. These models are especially beneficial for early-career educators by providing structured support.
Key Findings:
- Higher retention rates: Teachers in NEW models are more likely to remain at their schools, especially early-career educators.
- Longer career plans: These teachers plan to stay in the profession for at least five years.
- Increased satisfaction: Educators are more likely to recommend teaching to a friend.
- Improved evaluations: Higher evaluation ratings compared to peers in non-teamed classrooms.
Our initial findings are promising and suggest that NEW models are significantly improving the educator experience. This brief is the first in a series of studies analyzing the impact of NEW models, with future reports set to include more comprehensive data and student outcomes
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Steven Weiner
Senior Research AnalystRobin Lake
Director