Toolkit: Attract, Hire, Retain, & Reward the Best People

A Public Education Promise Toolkit

Principle 3: Attract, Hire, Retain, & Reward the Best People

Building a thriving, future-ready workforce by designing systems where educators feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow and stay.

Attracting, hiring, retaining, and rewarding the best people is not a human resources challenge, it is a leadership imperative.

When districts design human capital systems that honor belonging, elevate voice, support growth, and recognize contribution, they create environments where educators choose to stay and thrive.

This principle reminds us that the success of every other promise depends on the people who bring it to life. By aligning culture, systems, and leadership behaviors around what educators truly need to succeed, districts can build stable, inspired, and future-ready workforces鈥攅nsuring that every student benefits from adults who are committed, supported, and proud to serve.

This Toolkit will Help District & School Leaders:

Understand what effective attraction, hiring, retention, and reward systems look like in practice
Align human capital strategies to culture, values, and community aspirations
Translate vision into action through practical tools, checklists, and case examples that leaders can use immediately

Core Understandings:

Attraction begins with culture, not postings.
Hiring is a leadership responsibility, not just a process.
Retention is driven by daily experiences.
Reward systems shape behavior.
People strategy must be human-centered.

Key Insights from Workgroup Participants:

Culture Is the Strongest Lever for Attraction and Retention
Hiring Systems Must Reflect Values, Not Just Credentials
Retention Is Built Through Belonging, Voice, and Support
Reward Systems Should Be Meaningful, Equitable, and Transparent
Practical Tools Accelerate Implementation

Read the Full Executive Summary

Toolkit Resources:

Toolkit Work Group Members

Thank you to our Principle 3: Attract, Hire, Retain & Reward the Best People Work Group Members.

萝卜AV视频Staff Leads:

Colon Lewis
Valerie Truesdale

Work Group Members:

Vallerie Cave, Superintendent, Allendale County Schools (S.C.)
Andi Fourlis, Superintendent in Residence, Northern Arizona University
Jasmine Kullar, Chief of Schools, Cobb County School District (Ga.)
Dana Monogue, Superintendent, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (Wis.)
Tracy Reed, Superintendent, Reynoldsburg City School District (Ohio)
Mary Catherine Reljac, Superintendent, Fox Chapel Area School District (Pa.)
Bart Rocco, Executive Director, University of Pittsburgh
Burke Royster, Superintendent, Greenville County School District (S.C.)
Heidi Sipe, Superintendent, Umatilla School District (Ore.)
John Spieser, Superintendent, Milford Exempted Village Schools (Ohio)
Gyimah Whitaker, Superintendent, City Schools of Decatur (Ga.)

About The Public Education Promise Toolkits

The 萝卜AV视频Public Education Promise Toolkits are designed to support district leaders as they move from vision to practice in ways that are locally meaningful, practical, and enduring.

Curated by AASA, in partnership with working groups comprised of superintendents, central office leaders, and education sector practitioners, the toolkits bring together real-world examples, reflection tools, and district artifacts aligned to each of the five Public Education Promise Principles.

What鈥檚 Inside the Toolkit?

The materials are intentionally practice-forward, recognizing that transformation looks different in every community and that effective change is led by those closest to the work. Within each principle, districts will find:

Self-assessments to support reflection and conversation at the leadership team level.
Case studies illustrating how districts are translating the Promise into action.
District-developed artifacts and resources that surface how student-centered learning is defined, supported, and made visible across systems.
Companion guides designed to facilitate discussion, make connections across initiatives, and support collective sense-making.

The toolkits are intended to be living resources. As districts continue to apply the Public Education Promise and share what they are learning, 萝卜AV视频will periodically add new case studies, tools, and resources to reflect emerging practice and deepen understanding of each principle.

View All Toolkits

View The Public Education Promise Resource Library

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