Teacher attrition is a widespread problem in the United States and is most severe in urban and rural schools. High rates of teacher attrition and discontent contribute to budget problems and decreased educational school quality. The purpose of this study is to examine how a variety of environmental factors and teacher background characteristics contribute to teacher attrition and discontent. The school system along with the relationship between teacher background and school organization will be considered. The core research questions guiding this study are: To what degree do school environmental factors and teacher background characteristics explain teachers' discontent and ultimate attrition? What is the relationship between teacher discontent and departure? Logistic regression was used to analyze data from the School and Staffing Survey and the Teacher Follow-up Survey collected by the National Center for Education Statistics to answer the research questions. Significant predictors that increased the odds of teacher discontent include: middle school setting, urban locale, rural locale, teacher perceptions of student problems, and teacher perception of community problems. Significant predictors that decreased the odds of teacher discontent include: school salary, highly qualified status, union membership, classroom control, and principal/colleague support. Predictors that increased the odds of teacher attrition include: certification type, school size, rural locale, teacher perceptions of student problems, and classroom control. Predictors that decreased the odds of teacher attrition include: teacher race and ethnicity, highly qualified status, and minority student enrollment. / Urban Education

Teacher shortages throughout the country have been an issue for school divisions and leaders. The demand for teachers has increased, while the number of teachers entering and graduating from teacher preparation programs is decreasing (Sutcher et al., 2016). Increased teacher demands by school divisions, schools, families, and testing requirements have contributed to declining teacher job satisfaction and teacher retention. Teachers are leaving high poverty, high minority schools for more affluent schools (Hanushek et al., 2004). The challenge of retaining quality teachers affects schools with diverse populations and high poverty, thus contributing to achievement gaps between minority and non-minority groups (Garcia and Weiss, 2019). Teachers in high poverty or high minority schools, mostly categorized as Title I schools, report low teacher job satisfaction levels, translating into high teacher turnover. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify principal practices that impact teacher job satisfaction and retention in Title I elementary schools in a large suburban Central Virginia school division. The researcher sought to gain insight from Title I elementary teachers on the factors that they identified as impacting their job satisfaction and retention in their Title I elementary school. Title I elementary principals were interviewed and asked to identify their practices that they perceived to impact teacher job satisfaction and retention. The researcher sought to identify common factors identified by both Title I elementary principals and teachers in impacting teacher job satisfaction and retention. The intended outcome of this study was to provide Title I elementary principals and school division leaders with qualitative data to improve teacher job satisfaction and retention in Title I elementary schools. Data collection included five principal interviews and five teacher focus groups with 16 teachers in Title I elementary schools. An analysis of the data indicated that both teachers and principals perceived support, professional respect, relationships, climate, community, and collaboration to impact teacher job satisfaction and retention in Title I elementary schools. It is anticipated that this study's results could help Title I elementary principals and school divisions with high teacher turnover implement practices to impact teacher job satisfaction and teacher retention in Title I elementary schools; thereby improving consistent, quality instruction and student achievement. / Doctor of Education / Teacher shortages throughout the country have been an issue for school divisions and leaders. The demand for teachers has increased, while the number of teachers entering and graduating from teacher preparation programs, and remaining in the profession is decreasing. High poverty, high minority schools, and/or Title I schools are impacted more severely by the teacher retention challenges (Garcia and Weiss, 2019; Sutcher et al., 2016). The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify principal practices that impact teacher job satisfaction and retention in Title I elementary schools in a large suburban Central Virginia school division. The researcher sought to gain insight from Title I elementary teachers on the factors that they identified as impacting their job satisfaction and retention in their Title I elementary school. Title I elementary principals were interviewed and asked to identify their practices that they perceived to impact teacher job satisfaction and retention. The researcher sought to identify common factors identified by both Title I elementary principals and teachers in impacting teacher job satisfaction and retention. The intended outcome of this study was to provide Title I elementary principals and school division leaders with qualitative data to improve teacher job satisfaction and retention in Title I elementary schools. Data were collected from five principal interviews and five teacher focus groups with 16 teachers in Title I elementary schools. An analysis of the data indicated that both teachers and principals perceived support, professional respect, relationships, climate, community, and collaboration to impact teacher job satisfaction and retention in Title I elementary schools. It is anticipated that this study's results could help Title I elementary principals and school divisions with high teacher turnover implement practices to impact teacher job satisfaction and teacher retention in Title I elementary schools; thereby improving consistent, quality instruction and student achievement.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T18:49:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO FINAL WILLIAM[1].pdf: 757637 bytes, checksum: 00d2c337c55a7b6405f19d7925c6d73d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-06 / The purpose of this study was to identify, according to teachers of public schools of São Paulo State, (1) the factors of dissatisfaction, (2) the factors of motivation in their respective career phases, (3) suggestions of challenging goals in their professional careers, (4) their preferences between individual and collective challenges, and (5) stimuli which can be used in a leveraging plan, within the parameters of State Teaching Statute. The choice of subjects was done in two public schools of the state of São Paulo, both situated in the city of Presidente Prudente. The first one is located in the central area of the city, has 3000 students, being classified as of great size and, according to the Map of Social Exclusion of Presidente Prudente, is situated In the area of social inclusion. Located in a neighborhood of "mean social exclusion", according to the same geographical criterion applied to the first school, the second school has 1300 students, being classified as of medium size. The method chosen was a qualitative research study classified as a two case study. The data collection was conducted through a semi-structured interview guide, taking care of eliminating name, date or data that could lead to the identification of the teacher interviewed. Fourteen teachers of every career phase and age were interviewed. An observation guide of teacher work places was also utilized with the purpose of supporting and validating the statements collected through the interview. Finally, stimuli, which can be used as motivating factors, were identified by the teachers in the present legislation. Among the most relevant results of the study, an almost unanimity was found in relation to teacher career valorization and recognition, salary revision and a medium and long range plan for the profession. All these proposals were amply supported by the literature review, which highlights the need to remunerate, reward and recognize those professionals for eliminating their dissatisfactions, as a prerequisite for their motivation through which their performance will be better, overcoming the obstacles mentioned in the study and working more and qualitatively better. Finally, in the conclusions of the study the suggestion of an action plan based on the results of the study was presented. This plan intends to lead the teachers to compensate and overcome presently existing barriers in the profession. / O propósito desta pesquisa foi identificar junto a professores de escolas públicas do Estado de São Paulo (1) as causas de insatisfação, (2) os fatores de motivação em suas respectivas fases de carreira, (3) sugestões de metas desafiadoras em suas carreiras profissionais, (4) suas preferências entre desafios individuais e coletivos, e (5) dentro dos parâmetros do Estatuto do Magistério estadual, estímulos que possam ser usados em um plano alavancador da qualidade de ensino. A escolha dos sujeitos foi feita em duas escolas públicas do Estado de São Paulo, ambas situadas na cidade de Presidente Prudente. A primeira localiza-se na área central da cidade, tem 3000 alunos, classificando-se como de grande porte, e, segundo o Mapa de Exclusão Social de Presidente Prudente, está situada na área de inclusão social. A segunda escola, localizada em bairro de média exclusão social , segundo o mesmo critério geográfico aplicado à primeira escola, tem 1300 alunos, classificando-se como de porte médio. O método escolhido foi o de pesquisa qualitativa, utilizando o estudo de dois casos. A coleta de dados foi realizada mediante um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada, tomando-se o cuidado de eliminar nome, data ou dados que pudessem levar à identificação do professor entrevistado. Foram entrevistados catorze professores de todas as fases de carreira e idade. Também foi utilizada a observação dos locais de trabalho do professor visando amparar e dar suporte às declarações colhidas, validando-as. Por fim, foram identificados pelos professores na atual legislação estímulos que podem ser usados como fatores motivacionais. Entre os resultados mais relevantes da pesquisa, encontrou-se uma quase unanimidade em relação à necessidade de valorização e reconhecimento da carreira, revisão salarial e um plano de médio/longo prazo para a profissão. Todas essas propostas foram comprovadas fartamente pela revisão da literatura, destacando-se a necessidade de remunerar, recompensar e reconhecer esses profissionais da educação, eliminando suas insatisfações, como pré-requisito para uma situação de motivação, mediante a qual seu desempenho será melhor, superando os entraves mencionados no estudo e trabalhando mais e qualitativamente melhor. Finalmente, foi apresentada nas conclusões do estudo a sugestão de um plano de ação baseado no resultado da pesquisa. Esse plano pretende levar os professores a compensar e superar os entraves existentes atualmente na profissão.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:54:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO FINAL WILLIAM[1].pdf: 757637 bytes, checksum: 00d2c337c55a7b6405f19d7925c6d73d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-06 / The purpose of this study was to identify, according to teachers of public schools of São Paulo State, (1) the factors of dissatisfaction, (2) the factors of motivation in their respective career phases, (3) suggestions of challenging goals in their professional careers, (4) their preferences between individual and collective challenges, and (5) stimuli which can be used in a leveraging plan, within the parameters of State Teaching Statute. The choice of subjects was done in two public schools of the state of São Paulo, both situated in the city of Presidente Prudente. The first one is located in the central area of the city, has 3000 students, being classified as of great size and, according to the Map of Social Exclusion of Presidente Prudente, is situated In the area of social inclusion. Located in a neighborhood of "mean social exclusion", according to the same geographical criterion applied to the first school, the second school has 1300 students, being classified as of medium size. The method chosen was a qualitative research study classified as a two case study. The data collection was conducted through a semi-structured interview guide, taking care of eliminating name, date or data that could lead to the identification of the teacher interviewed. Fourteen teachers of every career phase and age were interviewed. An observation guide of teacher work places was also utilized with the purpose of supporting and validating the statements collected through the interview. Finally, stimuli, which can be used as motivating factors, were identified by the teachers in the present legislation. Among the most relevant results of the study, an almost unanimity was found in relation to teacher career valorization and recognition, salary revision and a medium and long range plan for the profession. All these proposals were amply supported by the literature review, which highlights the need to remunerate, reward and recognize those professionals for eliminating their dissatisfactions, as a prerequisite for their motivation through which their performance will be better, overcoming the obstacles mentioned in the study and working more and qualitatively better. Finally, in the conclusions of the study the suggestion of an action plan based on the results of the study was presented. This plan intends to lead the teachers to compensate and overcome presently existing barriers in the profession. / O propósito desta pesquisa foi identificar junto a professores de escolas públicas do Estado de São Paulo (1) as causas de insatisfação, (2) os fatores de motivação em suas respectivas fases de carreira, (3) sugestões de metas desafiadoras em suas carreiras profissionais, (4) suas preferências entre desafios individuais e coletivos, e (5) dentro dos parâmetros do Estatuto do Magistério estadual, estímulos que possam ser usados em um plano alavancador da qualidade de ensino. A escolha dos sujeitos foi feita em duas escolas públicas do Estado de São Paulo, ambas situadas na cidade de Presidente Prudente. A primeira localiza-se na área central da cidade, tem 3000 alunos, classificando-se como de grande porte, e, segundo o Mapa de Exclusão Social de Presidente Prudente, está situada na área de inclusão social. A segunda escola, localizada em bairro de média exclusão social , segundo o mesmo critério geográfico aplicado à primeira escola, tem 1300 alunos, classificando-se como de porte médio. O método escolhido foi o de pesquisa qualitativa, utilizando o estudo de dois casos. A coleta de dados foi realizada mediante um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada, tomando-se o cuidado de eliminar nome, data ou dados que pudessem levar à identificação do professor entrevistado. Foram entrevistados catorze professores de todas as fases de carreira e idade. Também foi utilizada a observação dos locais de trabalho do professor visando amparar e dar suporte às declarações colhidas, validando-as. Por fim, foram identificados pelos professores na atual legislação estímulos que podem ser usados como fatores motivacionais. Entre os resultados mais relevantes da pesquisa, encontrou-se uma quase unanimidade em relação à necessidade de valorização e reconhecimento da carreira, revisão salarial e um plano de médio/longo prazo para a profissão. Todas essas propostas foram comprovadas fartamente pela revisão da literatura, destacando-se a necessidade de remunerar, recompensar e reconhecer esses profissionais da educação, eliminando suas insatisfações, como pré-requisito para uma situação de motivação, mediante a qual seu desempenho será melhor, superando os entraves mencionados no estudo e trabalhando mais e qualitativamente melhor. Finalmente, foi apresentada nas conclusões do estudo a sugestão de um plano de ação baseado no resultado da pesquisa. Esse plano pretende levar os professores a compensar e superar os entraves existentes atualmente na profissão.

The purpose of this research study was to gather data on a sample of technology teacher candidates in order to determine how many graduates with a technology teaching endorsement actually entered the teaching profession. In addition, data were collected to investigate the attrition rate of the same pool of candidates. For those who left the education profession, the study also examined how long these individuals taught before leaving as well as investigated the reasons these individuals decided to leave the technology teaching profession. For those who have remained in the teaching profession this study also explored their reasons for remaining in education. In addition, data were collected regarding how many technology teaching candidates remained within the state of Utah as well as how many have accepted positions outside of the state of Utah. To accomplish these tasks, a survey instrument was designed to gather employment data from Technology Teacher Education (TTE) graduates of Brigham Young University over the last 14 years. There were 189 technology teacher education graduates from 1994-07. Contact information was located and compiled for 148 of the 189 graduates; therefore, the results of this survey were calculated using the 148 graduates with current contact information. Of the 148 potential participants in this study, 110 (74%) of the TTE graduates responded. From the responses of the 110 TTE graduates the following was determined. There were 85 of those who responded that entered the teaching profession; 84 of those graduates entered within two years of graduation. Of the 85 graduates entering education, 54 stayed in the state of Utah and 31 left the state to teach. There were 67 of 110 responders to the survey (60%) that reported they entered education within two years and have remained in education since graduation. One teacher out of the 85 entered education after attending graduate school. The survey indicated that 17 of the 85 teachers exited education which is equal to 20% of the responding educators leaving education. Of the 17 educators who left the profession six left the first year, and 13 of the 17 left sometime during the first three years. Of the 17 educators that left education, four returned to the profession.