Professional Teacher

Overview

Professional Teacher

Professionally licensed teachers make up the majority of most states’ teacher workforce. These experienced professionals, mid-career on the career continuum, want positive working conditions, instructional feedback and support, and career opportunities. SREB provides research and recommendation to help state and district leaders grow, retain and support their professional teachers. 

Publication April 2026 | 24 pages

A State Guide for Innovative, High-Impact School Staffing Systems

Traditional school staffing models have remained largely unchanged for decades. Strategic school staffing offers a path forward that is tailored to today’s instructional demands, labor market realities and the needs of the current generation of students. 

This policy guide provides legislators, state boards of education, state agency leaders, governors’ offices and district policy leaders with a practical framework for addressing barriers, enabling high-quality implementation, and helping districts to scale up thoughtfully-designed strategic staffing models.

READ THE REPORT

 

Publication September 202010 pages

New Ideas in Teacher Compensation

To help states retain teachers and recruit the next generation into the profession, this brief examines teacher compensation policies in states and how adjustments could help reverse teacher shortage trends. The report looks at teacher compensation packages as a whole, including data on salary, health insurance, retirement and other benefits. It also outlines moderate-, low- and no-cost strategies for states and districts to improve teacher working environments.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Blog post Megan Boren, Program Specialist, SREB

COVID-19 Effects on the Teacher Workforce

In April, my mom called me with the news that my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Metcalfe, who was rounding out his 42nd year of teaching, had died from COVID-19. I knew him from class, of course, but I also went to school with his son for 13 years and his family attended my grandparent’s church.

He was respected, loved and honored for his excellent teaching. His funeral was an all-day parade of cars through the high school parking lot, where community members waved and shouted condolences to his family. My mom said the cars stretched down the street for miles.

Publication April 20204 pages
how could states and district improve teacher working conditions report cover

How Could States and Districts Improve Teacher Working Conditions?
Examples of Initiatives From Around the South

On average, 8% of teachers leave the profession each year, many citing poor working conditions. State policymakers can improve the environment for educators through early career induction, mentoring, professional learning, school leadership, tiered certification, career lattices and advanced teacher roles. This briefing offers specific examples from SREB states and three steps to consider.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Spotlight

School Is My Happy Place
Educator Effectiveness Spotlight

Happy staff. Hardworking students. Supportive parents.

School culture matters. It affects teachers’ morale and instruction,  parent engagement, and students’ behavior and learning. Developing and sustaining a positive school culture is hard — but one Florida elementary school has a lot of creative ideas for making it work.