Since its establishment in 1956, Singapore American School has been privileged to have a dedicated and committed faculty. SAS has seen its share of changes and challenges over the years, but our educators—teachers, instructional assistants (IAs), and staff—have remained steadfast in their commitment to providing an excellent educational experience for our students. Educator longevity at SAS is impressive, with an average of 9.5 years of service, and our longest-serving educator, third grade IA Rohana Nong Mansor, has over 50 years at SAS. Longevity helps to create a sense of ownership and connection between educators and students, fostering positive academic outcomes. These long tenures are the result of the school's remarkable culture. SAS provides a professional development and growth environment for its educators, as well as a strong support system that allows them to flexibly develop and manage their careers here.

How SAS Addresses Teacher Retention
A 2021 Purdue University study found that a number of factors contribute to teacher retention, including working conditions, collegiality, co-teaching relations, and salaries and benefits. According to a 2017 study from Walden University, US public schools experience educator turnover of up to 23 percent per annum. Although SAS enjoys a much lower teacher turnover rate (varying from six percent to around 15 percent annually over the last decade), keeping the most passionate, qualified, and experienced teachers in our classrooms is a key concern.

Hiring the Best People
“Having quality teachers is vitally important,” says Dr. Jennifer Sparrow, deputy superintendent at SAS. “We have quality teachers who've just graduated, as well as quality teachers who've been teaching 30 years.” SAS has a very rigorous hiring process, which includes a background check, multiple interviews, and a teaching demonstration. This process helps to ensure that only the most qualified and committed teachers are hired.

Professional Development
Teachers at SAS can participate in a variety of programs and courses that help them improve their teaching skills. Additionally, SAS offers mentorship and induction programs to help new teachers adjust to the school system and feel supported in their work. The school also strives to create a positive and welcoming environment for all educators, which can help reduce turnover rates. We are grateful to the SAS PTA and Booster Club for their work in supporting our teachers and thankful to all families that make gifts to SAS to support professional development opportunities for our educators.

Support and Leadership
SAS provides a variety of supports to help teachers feel connected to their students and their work. A 2014 California State University study found that a perception of strong school leadership was positively associated with teacher longevity. Supports at SAS include coaches who work with teachers one-on-one, professional learning communities that allow teachers to collaborate and share best practices, and feedback mechanisms with leaders and peers that help teachers reflect on and share their best practices.

Rewarding Outstanding Teaching
The benefits of a long-term SAS teaching career are many. Our teachers receive a competitive salary that increases in line with their experience and ongoing education, as well as benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and vacation time.

Wellness and Community
Teacher longevity has been shown to be related to well-being and community involvement. Most studies on educator longevity have shown that those who feel a sense of connectedness to their community are more likely to stay in their job for a longer period of time. Through SAS’s Working On Wellness (WOW) program, our teachers are encouraged to maintain their physical, social, and emotional well-being. Overall, these factors contribute to a more positive teaching experience for both the teacher and the students. We are also deeply grateful to parents for the encouragement they give to our educators.

The Benefits of Long-Term Teaching Staff
Long-term teaching staff can provide a sense of stability and continuity for students, which can lead to a greater sense of academic and emotional security. Additionally, having long-serving educators allows for the development of strong relationships between teachers and students, which facilitates a supportive learning environment. Furthermore, long-term teaching staff can help to ensure that the curriculum is effectively implemented and that students are effectively assessed. Overall, longevity helps our educators be effective in helping students achieve academic success.

Final Thoughts
Our educators are highly dedicated, passionate, and experienced. This is why we deeply cherish our SAS educators. They are at the heart of our school and contribute so much to the success of our students. As we welcome this summer’s new cohort, we hope they, too, will be with us for many years.