Sticky Note Stations
A simple way for teachers to share honest feedback and ideas anonymously.
Ongoing
A Guide to Stay Interviews
Keep great teachers by having the right conversations.
Alissa Christensen
Stay interviews are simple, one-on-one conversations where school leaders check in with staff to understand their experience and make meaningful improvements while they're still part of your team. This guide includes question prompts, sample scripts, and a follow-up tracker to help you listen, act, and retain.
Why try it
Stay interviews help you understand what’s working, what support your staff need, and what keeps them motivated. When you listen and act on feedback, you build trust, improve morale, and increase staff retention.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Plan and create the space
Schedule time during the school day and arrange coverage so staff don't miss planning time. Choose a private, comfortable setting where people can speak openly without feeling rushed.
2
Start the conversation
Bring the question guide and recording sheet to each meeting. Open with something positive to build comfort, then move into reflection questions about what's going well and what could be better.
3
Explore support, growth, and challenges
Ask what helps each person feel successful in their role and create space for honest feedback. Questions about career goals, recognition preferences, and day-to-day barriers often surface the most useful insights.
4
Listen actively
Be fully present. Ask follow-up questions, acknowledge what you're hearing, and reassure staff that their feedback will be used thoughtfully and not shared in ways that put them on the spot.
5
Reflect and prioritize
After each conversation, review your notes and look for patterns across your team. Choose one or two high-impact changes you can act on quickly and a few longer-term goals to work toward.
6
Close the loop
Share what you heard and communicate your next steps. A quick email update or shoutout at a staff meeting goes a long way in showing your team that speaking up actually leads to change.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Quick check-in version
Use 2–3 core questions during a brief 1:1 or walkthrough when a full conversation isn't possible.
Team leader version
Involve assistant principals or instructional coaches in conducting interviews so the process scales across a larger staff.
Mid-year reset
Run interviews after winter break or contract renewals when there's still time to act on what you learn before the year ends.
New leader edition
If you're new to the building, stay interviews are one of the fastest ways to understand your team's history, needs, and what they're hoping will change.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep it casual
The conversation should feel supportive and low-pressure, not like a formal review or evaluation.
Leader Tip #2
Listen more
Focus on understanding before responding or problem-solving. Your goal is to learn, not to fill silence.
Leader Tip #3
Follow through
Even small actions in response to feedback build significant trust over time. Staff notice when things change.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
Alpaca Pulse Check-In
Turn insights into action
With just three simple questions, Alpaca's Pulse Check-In helps school leaders listen to their teams and act where support is needed most.
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