Florida teacher retention amid the pandemic remains unclear

As more schools reopen to students across our state, we wanted to know just how many Florida teachers have chosen to leave the profession all together.

Investigative Reporter Katie LaGrone takes a look at teacher retention rates.

MANY FLORIDA TEACHERS HAVECHOSEN TO LEAVE THE PROFESSIONALL TOGETHER THIS YEAR.CONTACT 5 INVESTIGATOR KATIELAGRONE IS TAKING A LOOK ATTEACHER RETENTION RATES.AS FLORIDA TEACHERS CELEBRATEA LEGAL WIN IN ITS ONGOINGLAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE TOKEEP BRICK AND MORTAR SCHOOLSCLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC&37:59- WE WON BECAUSE WETHE SIDE OF RIGHT.

NUMBERS WEOBTAINED FROM DISTRICTS AROUNDTHE STATE REVEAL HOW THE FEAROF COVID-19& MAY HAVE ALREADYLEFT THOUSANDS OF TEACHERSFEELING LIKE THEYTAMPA BAYINTERVIEW) 3:00:52- OVER 99%OF TEACHERS SAID THEYCOMING BACK HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTYLARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT, ISTOUTING A NEAR PERFECT TEACHERRETENTION RATE THIS YEAR&(SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW)3:01:36- WEAGGRESSIVE WITH OURRECRUITMENT TO CREATE A LONGTERM BENCH ACCORDING TO SCHOOLBOARD DOCUMENTSMID-JUNENDND MND MIDND MID-AND MID-AUGND MID-AUGUSND MID-AUGUST-ND MID-AUGUST- OND MID-AUGUST- OFTHD-JUNETHISJUNETHIS YNETHIS YEATHIS YEARTHOUSAND TEACHERS HAVE OPTEDFOR A LEAVE OF ABSENCE ORRESIGNED FROM THEDISTRICT&DOWN 3% FROM LASTYEAR.

(SUPERINTENDENTINTERVIEW) 3:00:47- YOUALWAYS HAVE A NUMBER OFTEACHERS YOU HAVE TO FILL DUETO ATTRITION AROUND STATE&JUSTOVER A DOZEN SCHOOL DISTRICTSRESPONDED TO OUR REQUEST FORTEACHER RETENTION RATES.

MANYREPORTED RATES OF 90% ORHIGHER AND TYPICAL, THEY SAY,OF RECENT YEARS.

MANY MORETOLD US THEY WERE STILLWORKING ON IT&OR DIDNRESPOND AT ALL.

TYPICALLY,DISTRICTS DONRETENTION RATES UNTIL LATER INTHE YEAR.

43:46- HI THIS ISKATIE LAGRONE DURING A ZOOMPRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAYWITH THE STATE TEACHERUNION, I ASKED WHAT THE UNIONKNEW ABOUT TEACHER STAYING ORGOING.

45:01- WHAT WE ARESEEING IN MANY CASES IS ALMOSTDOUBLE THE NUMBER OF TEACHERSRETIRING AND STAFF RETIRINGTHAT NORMALLY DO AT THIS POINTIN THE YEAR.

THE UNION ALSORAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THENUMBER OF TEACHERS TAKING ALEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING THEPANDEMIC.

45:22- A SIGNIFICANTINCREASE IN THE NUMBER OFTEACHERS AND STAFF TAKINGLEAVE OF ABSENCES IN SOMECASES MORE THAN 4 TIMES WHATTHEY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ATTHIS POINT IN THE YEAR.

WHILEITHOW COVID-19 IS CONTRIBUTINGTO TEACHERS LEAVING THECLASSROOM THIS YEAR& 9:55- ICONCERNED, IJEREMY BLTYHE- A CULINARY ARTSTEACHER IN PASCO COUNTY,DIDNDID ASK TO TEACH REMOTELY&ANDTHE HEALTH RISK, THE SAFETYFACTOR.

I DIDNMYSELF AT RISK, MY FAMILY ATRISK, THE STUDENTS AT RISK.NOW HE JOINS COUNTLESS OTHERTEACHERS &WHO DIDNMEANS TO LEAVE&BUT ALSO FEARSTAYING.

17:34- THIS IS GOINGTO BE SURVIVAL LEVEL, SINK ORSWIM KATIE LAGRONE (STANDARDTAG OUT)FAMILIES IN PALM BEACHCOUNTY'S WESTERN COMMUNITIESRECEIVED INCREDIBLE BACK