Educator workload, pay structure, and student discipline are among the top concerns
SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Huntsville City Schools (HCS) system continues to face high staff turnover, with 350 resignations reported in 2024, according to system data cited by AL.com. That figure is only 10 fewer than in 2022, when the district recorded its highest number of resignations in recent years.
“As one of Alabama’s largest school systems, Huntsville City Schools naturally sees a certain amount of annual turnover,” HCS said in a statement to AL.com. “The number of staff who transition each year is proportional to our overall size with several thousand employees.”
According to district figures, Columbia High School and Mae Jemison High School each reported 17 resignations in 2024, the highest among all campuses. Mae Jemison also led in teacher resignations, with 10 teachers leaving, followed by Grissom High School, which saw nine teacher resignations.
Certified teachers made up roughly half of all resignations, reflecting continued strain across classrooms.
Board member Andrea Alvarez said one persistent issue involves the district’s monthly pay schedule, particularly for Child Nutrition Program (CNP) staff. Thirty CNP workers resigned in 2024, one of the system’s highest turnover groups.
“They’ll give up pensions and retirement just to get paid biweekly,” Alvarez said.
Resignations were also high among teacher aides (39) and special education teachers, positions often associated with demanding workloads and extensive paperwork.
Alvarez said third-grade teachers are under similar stress due to testing and documentation requirements under the Literacy and Numeracy Acts.
Many teachers, she noted, leave within their first three years, before gaining tenure.
“They go to college learning ideal conditions, then face the real world — and it’s not what they expected,” Alvarez said.
The district is exploring partnerships with the City of Huntsville to help reduce living costs and improve teacher retention.