Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore what factors influence teachers decisions to leave the profession early in their teaching careers. Research questions were developed to examine five internal and external factors of early-career teacher attrition. The study was conducted by administering a survey to 493 early-career teachers in Indiana from various grade levels and locations. The four-part Survey of Teacher Attrition was designed to quantitatively measure early-career teachers salary, level of grit, level of administrative support, involvement in leading or coaching extracurricular activities, overall satisfaction with the teaching profession, and intention to remain in or leave the profession at the end of the studied year. Correlational analysis revealed satisfaction had the largest influence on voluntary attrition decisions. Additionally, administrative support was found to be an important factor in early-career intentions to remain in or leave the teaching profession. Finally, descriptive analysis revealed a potential link between satisfaction and administrative support. Teachers who were very unsatisfied had much lower levels of administrative support than teachers who were more satisfied. Analysis resulted in several important implications centered on the development of teacher satisfaction and supportive school administration. Based upon the findings and implications of this study, and numerous studies that have cited the importance of a teachers role in student achievement, Educational leaders at all levels have an obligation to continue to develop, support, and retain teachers for future generations of children in schools and classrooms around the world.

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