There are over 120 teachers at Leesville, six of these entering only their second year of teaching: Ms. Abbott, Mr. McLeod, Ms. Robinson, Ms. Riley, Ms. Meeks and Ms. Hinnant
Courtesy of CFNC
According to a new study from the National Education Association, half of teachers are more than likely to quit within their first five years of teaching.
Ms. Robinson and Ms. Riley, two Leesville teachers, are determined to not fall into this statistic. “I want to be a teacher, so I see myself doing this for a long time,” said Ms. Robinson.
Ms. Riley agreed. “ I really love teaching even though kids can be crazy sometimes. It’s fun.”
Most times teachers leave their jobs for the low pay, work load or the pressure of teaching to the test. North Carolina has a 71.1% graduation rate, and some people blame this low number on “teaching the test.”
“The emphasis on standardized testing has caused a lot of school systems to suffer,” said Ms. Robinson.
The Leesville family has helped teachers adjust.
“My colleagues in my department provide me support with the different policies and procedures that we have to follow. I meet weekly with Ms. Floyd who is my mentor. She listens and gives me advice for different things that I experience,” said Ms. Hinnant, another second year teacher.
Ms. Riley concurs. “It [Leesville] has been very supportive. We meet as a group to discuss individual units and plans for those lessons. I feel supported all around; if I have an issue with a parent, there are teachers and administrators that back me up.”
Leesville Road is privileged to have second year teachers who are determined to not fall into the “dropout statistic.”
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