Local Elementary School Combats Teacher Burnout, Notes High Job Satisfaction Rates
The school offers childcare for teachers during virtual learning among other benefits
DECATUR, GA – A DeKalb County Public charter school cites creative HR benefits for high job satisfaction rates among their teachers. The International Community School (ICS), which employs more than 60 teachers, administrators, and support staff, implemented policies like paid short term disability leave and provided childcare during virtual learning to provide more flexibility for staff.
At the end of an organization-wide staff survey in December 2021, 100% of ICS staff who responded answered YES to the question “Does your supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about you as a person?”
“That’s indicative of the community that we intend to create not just in our families and amongst our staff. We maintain that sense of community throughout our professional relationships,” said ICS Director of Operations and Finance Fran Carroll.
ICS currently also offers the following employee benefits unique among DeKalb County Public Schools and area nonprofits:
Childcare during virtual learning (something that the school has offered beyond just this year)
A $250 COVID-19 vaccine booster incentive
Bonuses placed throughout the year
Employer-paid short term disability policy
“ICS is in a unique position to use resources in creative ways. Through everything from our wellness initiative and providing our staff with fitbits, to our self care initiatives, and our tuition reimbursement professional development program, we are able to invest in our staff in innovative and creative ways that other organizations might not be able to” said Caroll. “Educators are leaving the profession for other careers; this is something we’re aware of. When we find good talent we want to invest in the whole employee in order to retain that talent.”
About ICS Charter School
The International Community School (ICS) is an International Baccalaureate World School that educates refugees, immigrants, and local children in grades kindergarten through 5th grade. ICS currently employs a staff of 60+ teachers, administrators, teaching assistants, and support staff. The school provides a rigorous and holistic education in an intentionally diverse community of mutual learners. For the 2020-21 school year, of 405 ICS students, 46% qualified as Limited English Proficient, and 74% qualified for free/reduced price lunch. Students come from 25 countries and speak over 30 languages.
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