What’s Drawing Teachers to Memphis Schools in 2025?
A Press Release from Teach901
At Give901, we believe leadership matters. In classrooms. In boardrooms. And across our city.
That’s why we’re excited to share the official 2025 Teach901 Educator Survey Press Release, highlighting insights from 1,137 educators across 47 Memphis schools.
This isn’t just data. It’s a roadmap for how Memphis can continue to recruit, support, and retain excellent teachers, the very foundation of strong schools and thriving students.
Leadership Presence Shapes Teacher Experience
The survey highlighted something powerful: leadership presence directly impacts teacher morale and perception.
Great teachers don’t just want a job.
They want to be led well.
They want school leaders who are visible. Who communicate clearly. Who reinforce mission. Who cultivate culture.
That’s transformational leadership.
And it mirrors what we believe at Give901: when leaders invest in people, people stay. When leadership is strong, systems are stronger. When schools are healthy, students thrive.
Supporting excellent teachers starts with supporting excellent leadership.
Mission Still Matters Most
For the seventh year in a row, the top reason educators said “yes” to their current school wasn’t salary. It wasn’t benefits. It wasn’t location.
It was this:
➡️ Mission and Education Philosophy (57%)
Teachers are choosing purpose.
They want to work somewhere the “why” is clear and lived out daily. They want alignment between their values and their school’s vision. They want to know their work contributes to something bigger.
And that should sound familiar.
At Give901, we talk often about our pillars:
Excellent Teachers
Innovative Schools
Empowering Mentors
We partner with organizations that are building schools where purpose is part of the culture.
When Give901 members give monthly, they strengthen schools that lead with mission. They are helping create environments where teachers feel called, supported, and inspired to stay.
That’s not small. That’s systemic change.
Recruitment Is Relational
Another standout finding:
➡️ 48% of educators found their job through a friend or colleague.
Nearly half.
That tells us something important: recruitment isn’t transactional. It’s relational.
Teachers trust teachers.
When educators feel proud of where they work, they become ambassadors. They recruit through their networks. They build pipelines organically.
This is why Teach901 invests in teacher appreciation events, community gatherings, and job fairs. These aren’t just celebrations (though our teachers absolutely deserve that energy). They are strategic leadership moments — spaces where trust is built and stories are shared.
And here’s where Give901 members come in.
When you support Teach901 and our partner organizations:
You help fund gatherings that build community.
You help strengthen recruitment pipelines.
You help create cultures teachers are proud to recommend.
Your generosity fuels leadership ecosystems.
Why This Matters for Memphis
Nationally, the teacher pipeline is shrinking. But Memphis is still attracting incredible educators. That doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when:
Schools communicate their mission clearly.
Leaders invest in culture.
Communities show up for educators.
Donors believe teachers are worth investing in.
At Give901, we know that excellent teachers are the cornerstone of innovative schools.
Let’s Keep Showing Up
Teachers are heroes. But they shouldn’t have to do heroic work alone.
If you haven’t yet, we invite you to:
✔️ Read the full 2025 Teach901 Educator Survey
✔️ Share it with your workplace or network
✔️ Consider becoming a Give901 member
✔️ Invite your company to explore workplace giving
And for media inquiries or interviews about the survey findings, contact Bree Wilson at bree@cityleadership.org. We’d love to tell this story together.
Because when leadership is strong and generosity is shared, Memphis wins.
