Kyrene discussed teacher retention and talent rankings at the Oct. 27 governing board meeting.
Lisa Gibson, assistant superintendent of the district, presented the annual update on evaluations and teacher retention.
The governing board is required by state law to review this information annually at a public meeting. Teachers are evaluated three times throughout the year and ranked highly effective, effective, developing or ineffective.
“High teacher retention rates directly impact student achievement, school culture and overall continuity in learning,” Gibson said.
In 2025, the Kyrene School board voted to close 6 schools due to low enrollment and budgeting challenges. This led to a shift in many positions but did not result in a reduction in force.
Kyrene had 775 teachers, including teachers who only worked part of the school year or teachers who were on a one-year contract with no expectation to renew.
Over 86% of the teachers with continuing contracts renewed for the 2026-27 school year. The teachers that did not renew either retired, resigned or requested a release from the contract before the end of the year.
Gibson said many factors contribute to this, like family obligations or relocating. Superintendent Laura Toenjes said this was vital to preventing a reduction in force.
“If a declining school district has 100% retention, you are going through a RIF, or a reduction in force,” Toenjes said.
Kyrene has not done a reduction in force following the vote for school closures as an estimated 12% have resigned or retired and some teachers have transferred to help other schools during the transition.
“While our goal is always to retain as many teachers as possible, some levels of natural attrition is important from a staffing perspective,” Gibson said.
Kyrene is above the statewide average of retention at 86% with the statewide average at 82%.
Only one teacher was classified as “developing” and no teachers were classified as ineffective. All other teachers were given an effective or highly effective rating.
All of the 25 Kyrene principals received an effective or highly effective rating.
Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).
Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.
Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.
Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.
Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.
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