The numbers are in, and they are not rosy. According to the "Schools and Staffing Survey," 64,954 public schools reported vacancies during the 2003-04 school year. Projections suggest teacher attrition rates will continue to soar, while student enrollments climb. American schools have an urgent challenge: the retention of teachers. Teachers can do something to help retain their colleagues. First, teachers must become aware of research that has examined dissatisfactions with the teaching profession. Second, they must use these findings to form policy and influence change. In this article, the author addresses the five most commonly cited issues in teacher retention and offers four recommendations for how teachers can become leaders who can influence those factors.