District reports stronger new-teacher retention after new onboarding program; one-year retention ~75%

Forest Lake Area Schools presented its new educator onboarding program to trustees Thursday, saying the initiative aims to retain early-career teachers through mentorship, an induction week and four follow-up induction evenings during the school year.

Director Lorenz said facilitators Kelly Larson and Erin Tine led the program. "They shared a lot about their goals and the goal of the program in retaining new educators," Lorenz said. The committee reported one-year retention at roughly 75 percent and said three-year retention had been near 50 percent in earlier years; program leaders tied higher early retention to the mentoring, induction and practical supports such as classroom-management training and technology help.

The program will continue to collect survey data and provide building-level monthly meetings to support new teachers; board members asked for copies of the presentation and one-page quick-reference handouts for teachers.