Leib Sutcher

Research Associate

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650.376.6168

Leib Sutcher served as a Research Associate at the Learning Policy Institute. He is currently enrolled in UCLA’s teacher education program to earn his teaching credential in secondary mathematics, and he continues to consult for LPI. His work focuses on the teacher labor market, including recruitment and retention, the inequitable distribution of unqualified and inexperienced educators, and teacher shortages.

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Showing 1 - 10 of 11 resources

Brief

Learning to Lead: Understanding California’s Learning System for School and District Leaders

Leib Sutcher

Anne Podolsky

Tara Kini

Patrick M. Shields

Oct 15 2018
|
A study including a survey of California principals and interviews with principals, former principals, and superintendents finds that California’s education leaders experience only some elements of high-quality preparation and professional development, and often miss out on the most valuable elements of quality learning experiences. Moreover, their participation in professional learning opportunities that support them in leading schools that develop students’ deeper learning and social and emotional competencies is inconsistent. They do, however, want more of it.

Topic Educator Quality
Brief

Teacher Shortages in California: Status, Sources, and Potential Solutions

Linda Darling-Hammond

Leib Sutcher

Desiree Carver-Thomas

Oct 15 2018
|
Teacher shortages have been worsening in California since 2015. In response, the state has invested nearly $200 million in programs aimed at recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers, but those programs will take time to yield the desired results. California needs to make additional investments to rapidly build the supply of qualified teachers where they are most needed and create incentives for experienced, effective teachers to re-enter and remain in the classroom.

Topic Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention
Brief

Understaffed and Underprepared: California Districts Report Ongoing Teacher Shortages

Leib Sutcher

Desiree Carver-Thomas

Linda Darling-Hammond

Feb 05 2018
|
For the 2017-18 school year, 80% of California districts reported shortages of qualified teachers and 82% reported hiring underprepared teachers, according to an LPI survey completed by 25 California school districts. Those districts collectively serve a quarter of the state’s students and include urban, suburban, and rural areas. This brief examines how districts experienced teacher supply in the fall of 2017.

Topic Educator Quality
Blog

Why Addressing Teacher Turnover Matters

Linda Darling-Hammond

Leib Sutcher

Desiree Carver-Thomas

Nov 13 2017
|
Over the last three years, thousands of news stories and dozens of studies from LPI and other organizations have documented teacher shortages across the country. Yet some critics argue that turnover is not generally a problem and shortages may not even be real. In this blog, Linda Darling-Hammond, Leib Sutcher, and Desiree Carver Thomas break down the research and explain that solving turnover and shortages is not a pipedream; it’s a policy question.

Topics Educator Quality, Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention
Report

Supporting Principals’ Learning: Key Features of Effective Programs

Leib Sutcher

Anne Podolsky

Danny Espinoza

Feb 27 2017
|
Principals play a central role in creating schools in which students thrive academically and the teaching staff is strong, stable, and supported. This report analyzes the research on quality preparation and professional development programs for principals, highlighting examples of effective programs and providing guidance for policymakers.

Topics Educator Quality, Educator Quality: Professional Learning, Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention, Equitable Resources and Access
Fact Sheet

Supporting Principals’ Learning: Key Features of Effective Programs

Leib Sutcher

Anne Podolsky

Danny Espinoza

Feb 27 2017
|
Improving student achievement requires strong school leadership. Principals also play a critical role in addressing widespread teacher shortages by creating school environments that attract and retain competent teachers. This fact sheet summarizes key elements of high-quality and effective preparation and professional development programs designed to enable principals to improve student and school outcomes.

Topics Educator Quality, Educator Quality: Professional Learning, Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention, Educator Quality: Evaluation & Career Development, Equitable Resources and Access
Brief

California Teacher Shortages: A Persistent Problem

Anne Podolsky

Leib Sutcher

Nov 30 2016
|
Seventy-five percent of districts responding to a Fall 2016 survey reported teacher shortages, with 81% saying the problem is getting worse. This brief details the results of the survey, conducted by the Learning Policy Institute and the California School Boards Association, including information about how districts are responding to shortages.

Topics Educator Quality, Equitable Resources and Access
Report

A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the U.S.

Leib Sutcher

Linda Darling-Hammond

Desiree Carver-Thomas

Sep 15 2016
|
Widespread media reports of local teacher shortages have become a hot topic in education since the summer of 2015. After years of teacher layoffs, districts began hiring again as the economy recovered from the Great Recession. This report analyzes evidence of teacher shortages, looks at national and regional trends in teacher supply and demand, and investigates policy strategies that might mitigate these effects based on research about effective approaches to recruitment and retention.

Topics Educator Quality, Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention, Educator Quality: Professional Learning
Brief

A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the U.S.

Leib Sutcher

Linda Darling-Hammond

Desiree Carver-Thomas

Sep 15 2016
|
This brief summarizes an analysis of the scope of teacher shortages being experienced throughout the country and discusses the causes and consequences of the shortages. Shortages are particularly severe in special education, mathematics, science, and bilingual/English learner education, and in locations with lower wages and poorer working conditions. This brief also provides recommendations of local, state, and federal policies to support the recruitment and retention of a quality teacher workforce.

Topics Educator Quality, Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention, Educator Quality: Professional Learning
Report

Addressing California’s Emerging Teacher Shortage

Linda Darling-Hammond

Roberta C. Furger

Patrick M. Shields

Leib Sutcher

Jan 19 2016
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After many years of teacher layoffs in California, school districts are using an influx of new k–12 funding to hire again. However, the supply of teachers has not kept pace with the increased demand. This report examines shortage indicators, discusses their impact on students, analyzes factors that influence teacher supply and demand in California and nationally, and recommends policies to ensure an adequate supply of fully prepared teachers where they are needed.

Topics Educator Quality, Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention, Educator Quality: Professional Learning, Educator Quality: Evaluation & Career Development, Equitable Resources and Access

Pages

Report

A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the U.S.

Sep 15 2016

Widespread media reports of local teacher shortages have become a hot topic in education since the summer of 2015. After years of teacher layoffs, districts began hiring again as the economy recovered from the Great Recession. This report analyzes evidence of teacher shortages, looks at national and regional trends in teacher supply and demand, and investigates policy strategies that might mitigate these effects based on research about effective approaches to recruitment and retention.

Report

Addressing California’s Growing Teacher Shortage: 2017 Update

Feb 08 2017

California’s teacher shortage is worsening as demand continues to outpace the supply of new teachers. The shortage of special education, mathematics, and science teachers is especially severe, prompting an increase in the number of underprepared teachers. Low-income and minority students are disproportionately impacted by shortages, which threaten to undermine academic progress. This report details findings from LPI’s 2017 Update on California’s teacher shortage and offers policy recommendations to address this pressing problem.

Report

Supporting Principals’ Learning: Key Features of Effective Programs

Feb 27 2017

Principals play a central role in creating schools in which students thrive academically and the teaching staff is strong, stable, and supported. This report analyzes the research on quality preparation and professional development programs for principals, highlighting examples of effective programs and providing guidance for policymakers.

Pages

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