RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Fewer teachers left North Carolina public school classrooms in the 2013-14 school year than in the previous year, according to data released by the state Department of Public Instruction.

In 2013-14, 13,557 teachers left their local school districts resulting in an overall state turnover rate of 14.12 percent. This was down from the 14.33 percent reported in 2012-13. The turnover report reflects the time period from March 2013 to March 2014.

"A number of the reasons why teachers leave their district or the profession can be addressed by just giving their profession the respect it deserves. We have high expectations for teachers and their pay and classroom support need to reflect that," Atkinson said in a statement.

This year, the Republican-led legislature provided teachers with an average pay raise of 7 percent.

Local district turnover rates ranged from a high of 34.3 percent in Washington County to a low of 6 percent in Clay County.