As we prepare for the upcoming break, we want to take a moment to address a critical priority for our school network: supporting and retaining our transformational educators.
Both leading up to and after our winter break, network leaders continue to develop comprehensive strategies to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to our most valuable asset – you, our dedicated educators. This includes our work on total rewards and specifically the following:
- Financial compensation: We are examining every available avenue to put additional dollars directly into staff compensation in the coming years. Our goal is to ensure our educators are fairly and competitively compensated for the critical work you do every day. We have already communicated our salary projection dashboard which shares what is currently funded in terms of staff raises. This winter we will be seeking feedback on our overall compensation approach through our staff working and advisory groups.
- Time-off benefits: We know your success is dependent upon having the time during the school day to do the work and also the time to rest & recover outside of the work day. Each year we have tried to invest in team member wellness and we want to continue this work:
- Two years ago we moved to a full week for Thanksgiving break.
- Last year, in response to your feedback, we added 2 additional days of PTO, Wellness Wednesdays, and maintained a returning teacher start date to 8/1.
- Comprehensive benefits package: We are conducting a thorough review of our current benefits to ensure we are offering a competitive and supportive package. More on DSST benefits here.
These efforts are not just about retention – they are about our fundamental mission of eliminating educational inequity. Your intent to return is integral to our commitment to retain transformational talent. If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to complete your Intent to Return in Workday (found on your Workday homepage) before you leave for a well-deserved holiday break.
In the coming months, we will share more information about our retention strategies and we look forward to your engagement.
Wishing you a restful break, and thank you for your continued dedication to our students and our mission.