RE: Question 1: Attracting and Retaining Teachers

In my neck of the woods, teachers do make significant decisions and contributions on behalf of children without the benefit of an administrative credential. Couple their decisions and input with the "out-of classroom administrator's" expertise and you have a well-run school without career ladders or mandated bargaining unit legislation. The bottom line is people want to work in places where they feel they are making a difference to children, peers, and to the education system. It is my observation that teachers like decisions based on common sense, a somewhat rare commodity these days in most segments. They also like to work in an environment that is challenging and responsive, and they like to have fun while learning and performing a very important job. Simplistic as these items seem to be, our poor, isolated, very rural small RIM school has managed to retain our highly talented staff for another year despite higher paying districts in the area, and our students are soaring. Why? It is a great place to work and be highly successful!