I love my job! Is every day wonderful? Of course not. But, I wake up each morning eager to see students and the amazing ICS staff. And I am genuinely ready to work hard on behalf of our students and their families, teachers, and staff because I believe in what we are doing here at ICS.
It’s no surprise that not everyone feels the same way. According to a Pew Research survey, only about half of U.S. workers say they are extremely or very satisfied with their job overall. As for teachers, a recent Gallup poll revealed that compared to all other occupations in the U.S. workforce, K-12 teachers are the most burned out. Yikes!
Thankfully, at ICS, this is not our story. I’m not the only one around here who loves their job!
My background is in Human Resources, so I take teacher recruitment and retention very seriously. When I joined the staff in 2019, I had a big goal. I wanted to create an environment where every staff member thrives. My #1 desire was that ICS would become a premier employer.
This vision fueled my dedication to implementing tangible changes that would not only benefit individual employees but elevate the overall workplace culture. Here are a few of the initiatives we’ve introduced in recent years:
- Short-term disability insurance
- Paid time and flexibility to volunteer
- Floating holidays so all employees can celebrate their cultural and religious traditions
As Executive Director, my commitment to making ICS an exemplary workplace has evolved but remained steadfast. Knowing the critical role teacher retention plays in student success, collaboration, and overall school dynamics, we’ve continued to seek out and implement innovative and sustainable ways to support the well-being of our teachers.
ICS reported a 97% staff retention rate for the 2024-25 school year, up from 92% in 2023.
The Georgia Department of Education found that Currently, 44% of Georgia's newly hired teachers are dropping out of the profession by year five.
For example, we cover aftercare costs for staff and provide childcare for professional development days. We have also instituted mental health initiatives to help alleviate stress and partnered with Edwell to provide mental health support through free coaching sessions for teachers.
I am grateful for and proud of the positive steps we have taken to support ICS being an awesome place to work! I am encouraged by the very high percentage of teachers intending to return for the 2024-25 academic year. We find that when people come to ICS, they stay!
ICS is not just a school or a place to work, but a community that truly cares for one another. If you or someone you know is seeking a workplace where contributions are valued, innovation thrives, and the well-being of every team member is a priority, ICS could be the perfect fit for you. We’d love to talk to you about your career here!
Just get ready because, like Dawn, Htwe, Felicite, Tam, and the dozens of other educators at ICS, you might find that once you come, you’ll stay!
ICS is hosting a Virtual Job Fair for potential candidates for the 2024-25 school year! We are so thrilled to see our team of dedicated educators grow this fall, and look forward to meeting you on Zoom on Wednesday, February 21 at 5:00 p.m. Please fill out this interest form to let us know your area of interest!
For more information on the innovative perks of employment at ICS, please visit our careers page.
Fran Carroll, ICS Executive Director, brings to ICS over 15 years of leadership and management experience in the for-profit and non-profit arena. For the last 3 years, Fran has served as the HR Manager, Interim Business Manager and most recently Director of Operations & Finance at ICS. In her spare time, when not spending time with her family, you can find Fran involved in the entrepreneurship arena in the Metro Atlanta area. She graduated from the Start:ME Southside Cohort in 2018 through Emory’s Goizuetta Business School. She loves entrepreneurship! In the past 3 years she has brought a lot of the entrepreneurial spirit to ICS. In 2020 she was listed as one of 11 parents who are making a difference!
I agree with all that is said by Ms. Carroll in the “Recruitment” article. I have been a substitute and support teacher at ICS for the past two years. Even though it is not always easy, the reward of being a part of such a dynamic and awesome school keeps motivating me to return. It is by far one of the best learning environments I have encountered. I look forward to returning at the end of each school day.