2025 Tennessee Educator Survey Snapshot: Teacher Retention Plans

The 2025 Tennessee Educator Survey Snapshots offer quick, accessible insights from educators on some of the most important issues in our schools—including artificial intelligence, cell phone policies, student discipline, match curriculum and supports, career and technical education, early career teachers, and teacher evaluation and retention. These one-pagers highlight what teachers are seeing and experiencing right now, providing valuable perspective to inform conversations about policy and practice across the state.

• Key Insight #1: 82% of teachers said they plan to continue teaching in their schools next year. Of those teachers not planning to exit or retire next year, 70% said they plan to continue teaching in Tennessee for more than 5 years.
• Key Insight #2: Teachers reported strong leadership and staff culture as important factors driving their decisions to stay at their schools. The reverse is also true, with perceived leadership challenges and negative culture driving decisions to leave.
• Key Insight #3: Only one-third of teachers said they are satisfied with their salaries. Yet, salary was not a top reason for not continuing to teach in their schools, and over half of those leaving said they will make the same or less money.