Talent Talks Blog
Insights on compensation strategy, performance evaluation, workforce planning, retention, and effective organizational leadership for education, mission-driven, and nonprofit organizations.
Retention Strategies for New Staff: Setting Your Team Up for Success
Intentional retention for new staff begins before day one with clear expectations, connection, and support that sets the stage for long-term success.
What Gets Valued, Gets Paid: Six Questions for Fair Compensation Design
Rachel Nozari | September 2025 In almost every organization I’ve worked with, I’ve sat with staff who discovered they were being paid less than colleagues doing comparable work — sometimes thousands of dollars less. The frustration in those moments isn’t just about the money; it’s about fairness, trust, and dignity. Those conversations stay with me, […]
Mid-Summer Check-In: EdFuel’s Tips for Staying on Track and Recharged
EdFuel | July 2025 You know that feeling, coming back from vacation and immediately thinking, “I need a vacation from my vacation.” We’ve all been there. This year, I was determined to break that cycle. A few weeks ago, we had our summer quiet week at EdFuel, and my family hit the road for our […]
When Intent to Return and Stay Conversations Don’t Match: What Now?
Marguerite Thibodeaux | March 2025 “In the intent to return survey, 100% of staff said they plan to return, but we know that at least a handful are really on the fence. How do we recruit just in case they leave without scaring off faculty that see their job posted?” Each spring, schools across […]
Retention Isn’t Just About Perks—It’s About Culture
Saima Zaman | November 2024 As the holidays approach, this is the time when staff start to think about whether they are leaving or staying at their current organization. Time with family, away from work, gives staff time to step back and assess their role and organization. We also know that from August through December […]
Reflections on Belonging
Saima Zaman, Director | March 2022 In a study shared by the Harvard Business Review in 2019, 40% of employees feel isolated at work despite 8 billion dollars being spent by US companies on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives1. In addition, studies around belonging have shown that feelings of belonging vary across identity groups, […]
Navigating Professional Environments with Intersecting Identities
Melany Justice, Associate | February 2022 In April of 2020, the CDC recommended mask-wearing in public to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. In the weeks that followed, I often pondered the metaphoric similarity between the “new” precaution of wearing a mask to remain safe in public and the long-standing precaution of wearing a “mask” while […]
How School Leaders Can Show C.A.R.E for Staff Wellbeing
Nicole Roberts Pratt January 27, 2022 As we start another year of the pandemic, there’s been the usual New Year’s focus on wellness – how are we individually going to take better care of ourselves (start an exercise routine, eat healthier, etc.). I have also seen some of the focus shift from wellness (which often […]
Psychological Safety: One ingredient in the recipe for teacher and student wellbeing
Kristina Campa-Gruca October 27, 2021 Teacher dissatisfaction has skyrocketed over the past year and a half, with one-in-four teachers indicating a desire to leave the classroom within the next year.1 Extraordinarily high levels of stress have led to a dramatic increase in burnout and overall decrease in mental health and wellbeing.2 We know from our […]
The Gift of Gratitude
Mary Mason Boaz September 30, 2021 If you’ve spoken to an educator in your life recently, you may have heard the same sentiment that I have: “This year is harder than last year”. Among other things, they’ve noted the lack of stability, the ever changing list of quarantines, and the overwhelming risk assessments they have […]
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