“You Say You Want to Keep Us—But Do You Even See Us?”

“You Say You Want to Keep Us—But Do You Even See Us?”
From the Desk of a Millennial/Gen Z New Teacher to the Leadership That Keeps Wondering Why We Leave

“I just wish my admin would check in on me and find out if I’m okay—not expect me to just know. Come through my room and give me feedback. Communicate about events occurring or changing in a timely manner.”

This quote didn’t come from a conference or a report. It came from a real new teacher. Me. And if you’re honest, you’ve heard it before—from surveys, exit interviews, or maybe a teacher who cried in your office and still turned in their resignation two weeks later.

So let me ask you this, leader to leader, adult to adult:
Are you actually supporting us, or are you just hoping we’ll “figure it out” like you did?

The Real Reason We’re Leaving

Millennials and Gen Z educators are leaving the profession at alarming rates, and the reasons go beyond pay (though that matters, too). We are not built to survive in outdated systems that ignore our humanity, require perfection from day one, and offer silence when we’re screaming on the inside.

Let’s get real. Here’s what we’re really saying:

“I didn’t go to school for this long to be micromanaged and still feel unseen.”
“If the first feedback I get is in an evaluation, it’s already too late.”
“No one prepared me for the emotional toll of teaching—where’s the space to process and be coached without judgment?”
“Y’all say ‘team,’ but I eat lunch alone and cry in my car on Fridays.”

That’s not just stress. That’s neglect.
That’s a system not built to retain us.
And that’s why we leave.

Our Pain Points? They’re Predictable:

✅ Lack of Emotional Check-Ins
We are a generation raised on therapy, podcasts, and self-awareness. We crave connection—not surveillance.

✅ Delayed or No Feedback
We thrive off growth. Silence doesn’t equal support. And please—don’t make all feedback about classroom management. We teach, too.

✅ Information Gaps & Poor Communication
Changing the bell schedule and telling us 20 minutes before lunch? That’s not a small deal—it disrupts our flow, our instruction, and our trust in leadership.

✅ Isolation
Stop assuming we’re fine because we smile. Being new is lonely. We need structured connection, not random potlucks.

✅ One-Size-Fits-All Onboarding
We don’t need an orientation folder. We need a strategy. One that accounts for our unique level of readiness, our backgrounds, and our desire to belong.

So What Does Work? Here’s What We’re Actually Asking For:

💬 “I need you to check in weekly—even if it’s just five minutes to ask how I’m really doing.”
Build a rhythm. Don’t wait until something’s wrong. Start with “How are you doing this week?” It’s that simple.

💬 “Come in my classroom before the evaluation. Let me know what’s working and what to tweak.”
Make feedback formative, not punitive. Walk-throughs without pressure build trust and skill. Be visible.

💬 “When something changes, tell me first—or at least tell me clearly.”
Slack. Email. Text. Carrier pigeon. Just don’t leave me guessing about what’s happening in my building.

💬 “Match me with a mentor who’s not burned out and is actually trained to coach, not vent.”
We need mentors who are empowered, not voluntold. And we need them early—before we hit our breaking point.

💬 “Don’t assume my silence means I don’t care. It might mean I’m overwhelmed.”
Create anonymous ways to pulse-check us. Use them. Act on the results.

Where New Teachers on the Block (NTOB) Comes In

You don’t have to figure all of this out on your own. NTOB was created by educators, for educators—with a deep understanding of how next-generation teachers operate, think, and thrive. We offer:

✅ Custom Onboarding Plans
Designed for your school’s culture and your new teachers’ real needs—no more one-size-fits-all.

✅ Leader Coaching
We coach administrators to better support and retain early career teachers—with tools, checklists, and training that actually work.

✅ New Teacher Development
We create comprehensive, practical, and inclusive PD plans that go beyond theory and into the classroom.

✅ Feedback & Check-In Systems
We help you implement real-time data tools and rhythms of communication that prevent burnout before it starts.

You say retention matters.
You say new teachers are the future.
Then let’s build a system where we want to stay.

Let’s Wrap This Up With a Challenge:

👀 If you’re a school or district leader reading this, ask yourself:

When was the last time you checked in on your new hires before they needed support?
Do your teachers have structured feedback before formal evaluations?
Do they know what’s expected—or are they guessing?

If any of your answers are unclear, it’s time to stop the guessing game.
Let NTOB help you create systems that match the mission you say you believe in.

📩 Ready to build a school where new teachers thrive—not survive?
Let’s talk. Book a consultation with New Teachers on the Block.
Because retention doesn’t start in May.
It starts now.

Visit www.newteachersontheblock.org to learn more or get started.

#NextGenTeachers #TeacherRetention #LeadershipMatters #MillennialTeachers #GenZEducators #NewTeachersOnTheBlock