Teacher retention in Shenandoah County Public Schools improved to 87% for the 2024–25 school year, up from 82% last year, although vacancies and workload pressures continue to weigh on the division.

Human Resources Director Linda Hodges told the School Board on Thursday that the turnover rate fell from 18% to 13%, with 84 new teachers joining SCPS. That group included 17 graduates of Shenandoah County schools who returned to teach in their home division, as well as a share of experienced educators — about 7% of new hires — who had previously taught in SCPS and chose to come back.

In all, 227 positions were filled, but 25 professional and 10 support roles remain vacant and are being covered by long-term substitutes and paraprofessionals. Hodges said the what the school division needs to a

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