CISD 101: Did You Know? Carroll ISD's Teacher Attrition Rate 50% Lower than State Average

Did you know that Carroll ISD has a teacher attrition rate that's half the state average?

 Carroll ISD continues to excel not only in recruiting top talent, but also in retaining it, outpacing state trends. According to the latest personnel report, the District achieved an impressive 10% teacher attrition rate (the percentage of teachers who leave the District in a given year), nearly half the Texas state average of 19.1%.

In fact, five CISD schools have even lower teacher turnover and one in particular, Old Union Elementary, had no teacher turnover at all this year.

"Some people say we're just like Disney," says Old Union Principal John Fike. "We love creating an atmosphere where joy, care and excellence shine through for our students, staff and families." It certainly helps that Fike has an extremely popular companion in Gracie the Golden Retriever, who serves as the Old Union Mascot, amateur therapy dog, and campus MVP. "She helps set the tone for unconditional acceptance around here," Fike says.

According to the latest CISD records, none of the teachers at Old Union left for any reason in the 2024-25 school year, resulting in an attrition rate of 0%. The next-lowest rate of 5% among Carroll campuses was set at both Carroll Middle School and Carroll Elementary School.

Even more encouraging, exit interview data shows that nearly 50% of those leaving CISD are doing so due to retirement or relocation, with none citing job dissatisfaction as the reason for their departure. Additionally, 30% of departing educators are exiting the profession altogether, aligning with national patterns amid a widespread teacher shortage.

Yet in the face of these challenges, CISD continues to attract strong candidates. 

"We have almost no retention problem at all," said HR Director Melanie Kibodeaux. "In fact, we have at least 70 people apply to work in Carroll ISD every week."

This is particularly important during a period of high teacher turnover in Texas. A 2024 poll of 1,100 Texas teachers by an Austin-based education advocacy nonprofit found nearly four-fifths of educators surveyed had seriously considered quitting the profession in the past year.

In contrast, CISD educators report finding the support, balance, and culture needed to do their best work. “We’re more than a staff,” said Fike. “We’re a family, with a shared sense of purpose to keep morale high and burnout low.” His team focuses on work-life balance, collaboration, and a clear vision for educating young Dragons. “And we laugh a lot,” he adds.

Having a friendly Golden Retriever on campus certainly doesn’t hurt, either.