University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

What are the reasons mid-career teachers continue teaching?

Maynard, Kirsten

Content Files
MAYNARD-DISSERTATION-2024.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125534

Description

Title
What are the reasons mid-career teachers continue teaching?
Author(s)
Maynard, Kirsten
Issue Date
2024-07-11
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Oh, Eunjung Grace
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Oh, Eunjung Grace
Committee Member(s)
  • Huang, Wenhao David
  • Kang, Hyun-Sook
  • Nelson, Jennifer
Department of Study
Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp
Discipline
Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ed.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • teacher retention
  • mid-career teachers, professional development
  • teaching career
  • intent to teach
  • desire to teach
  • job embeddedness
  • teacher turnover
  • turnover intention
  • feeling valued
  • supportive motivation
  • teaching preference
Abstract
The resignation of teachers during their mid-career teaching years is a loss for both schools and students. Turnover has a significant financial impact on school districts. High turnover negatively affects student achievement and the highest turnover tends to be in schools where poverty is prevalent and students of color attend. The cost of advertising, hiring, training and the necessary substitute costs to meet interim needs utilize funds that should be allocated to support students. Mid-career teachers leaving the classroom are often replaced with inexperienced or uncertified staff as the number of available and certified candidates dwindles. In a review of teacher retention data, 70% of teachers remain teachers after five years, and 61% at 10 years. At 19 years, only 50% of teachers are still teaching. Mid-career teachers are ending their teaching careers and few studies address how to support their teaching careers. Teacher retention is a national concern, as 90% of open teaching positions are created by teachers who have left teaching. The profession of teaching, once designed to be a lifelong career, now has fewer teachers remaining until retirement. The purpose of the present qualitative study was to expand on teacher retention research by exploring mid-career teachers’ reasons and intent for commitment to continue teaching. The analysis was completed using job embeddedness theory in relation to teacher retention. Twelve mid-career teachers from two comparable city school districts participated in semi-structured interviews. Themes identified through analysis of interview data revealed that mid-career teachers consider their relationships with students, collaboration with coworkers, and opportunities to evolve as teachers are most important to their retention as teachers. Although identified in prior research as essential for teacher retention, supportive leadership did not emerge as a factor for mid-career teacher retention. Understanding mid-career teachers' perceptions of links, fit, and sacrifice concerning teaching can help schools target ways to improve teacher retention. Results from this research can be utilized by schools and districts to improve teacher retention.
Graduation Semester
2024-08
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125534
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2024 Kirsten Maynard

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