Beyond Band-Aids: Transforming School Environments to Solve the Teacher Retention Crisis

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Matthew Kennard, CEO at BetterLesson, Inc.; Tommy Chang, CEO at New Teacher Center; and Tracy Dorland, Superintendent at Jeffco Public Schools.

The session challenged the prevailing narrative around teacher retention, which often centers on quick fixes such as professional development or time-saving edtech tools. Instead, the speakers reimagined how to create sustainable school environments where teachers can thrive and make a lasting impact on students. They examined how district and school leaders can build integrated systems that truly support teacher success, sharing real-world examples of districts that have transformed their approach to teacher support and retention. Topics included master scheduling, instructional leadership, and unified technology systems—demonstrating how forward-thinking leadership can foster continuous improvement and professional growth without overwhelming educators.