Education Commons^™

An Evaluation Of Rural Access To Education, Caroline Ackerman, Kera B. Ackerman

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

In Kentucky, educators serve over 100,000 students who qualify for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Given Kentucky's topography, and the designation of 86 of the Commonwealth's 120 counties as rural, it's essential to understand how the socioeconomic and geographic qualities of the state impact the students being served. Previous research has indicated that nearly a quarter of children in Kentucky live in poverty, with the highest rates existing in rural Eastern Kentucky counties. This statistic, compacted with the knowledge that high-need children in poverty are more likely than their peers to have a disability …

The Other Fifty Percent: Expressions From Special Education Teachers About Why They Persist In The Profession, Laron A. Scott, Christine Powell, Lauren Bruno, Christopher J. Cormier, Kendra Hall, Old Dominion University, Joshua P. Taylor, Katherine Brendli

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

We examined reasons special educators are motivated to persist in the profession despite challenges that often lead to attrition for this group. Participants were 21 special education teachers with six or more years of teaching experience across multiple grade levels. Data were collected via the Zoom virtual meeting platform with four focus groups. Semi-structured interview techniques were used, and data were analyzed using deductive coding procedures. Participants shared external, employment, and personal factors associated with Billingsley’s (1993) career decision framework that influenced their persistence, such as supports from school administrators with expertise in special education law, passion for students and …

An Examination Of The Relationships Between Campus Administrators And Special Education Teachers And Its Influence On Teacher Retention, Tai Lea Peacock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages have plagued U.S. school districts for many years now as special education and other high-need fields struggle to retain highly qualified teachers. School leaders must gain a better understanding of why special education teachers are leaving at such alarming rates in order to formulate a plan for improving retention. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine how campus administrators’ relationships influence the retention of special education teachers. Leader-member exchange theory, which contends that the relationships between leaders and followers impact our work environment and job satisfaction, served as the theoretical framework of this study. A …

Embracing Resiliency: Practical Strategies To Minimize Teacher Burnout And Elevate Retention, Melissa D. Reed, Heather Caswell, Monica Wong-Ratcliff

The Advocate

Abstract

Teacher shortage constitutes a crisis in the U.S. and the education system at-large. In light of the crisis of teacher shortage and the severity of turnover rate, the purpose of this paper is to join in the dialogue to further the conversation regarding how believing or reinforcing stereotypes can contribute to burnout and unrealistic expectations teachers face in education. Suggestions for pre-service and in-service teachers to acquire a more realistic and resilient lens for themselves as educators and the profession is presented. The following themes will be explored: collaboration, embracing vulnerability, empowerment and agency, support and mentoring, and self-care …

Building Level Principals' Roles In Special Education Teacher Retention, Charlotte R. Gilbar

LC Journal of Special Education

Attrition of special education teachers has steadily increased. The number of general education teachers that left teaching in 1991-1992 was 5.2% and in 2000-2001, it was 7.1%. Special education teachers followed the same upward trend but had an even more significant increase, in 1991-1992, it was 4.9% and in 2000-2001, it was 8.7%. The rate for general education teachers increased approximately 2% and the rate for special education teachers almost doubled (Boe, Cook, & Sunderland, 2008). There are numerous reasons for special education teacher attrition. For purposes of this paper, I will look at specific variables related to work environment …

High School Special Education Teacher Retention: Does The Type Of Certification Make A Difference?, Diane Coughlin, Ravic Ringlaben

LC Journal of Special Education

Special education teacher retention is a nation-wide issue that continues. Almost half of special education teachers leave the profession during their first five years of teaching. Though some studies have researched this issue, few studies have compared teacher preparation: specifically, traditional versus alternative certification programs. This study focused on the perceptions of traditionally and alternatively certified high school special education teachers regarding their intent on leaving or staying in the profession. Data is provided that substantiates retention is still a problem for both traditionally and alternatively certified high school special education teachers. Suggestions to increase special education teacher retention are …

Recruitment And Retention Of Rural Special Educators, Gregory C. Zost

LC Journal of Special Education

Attracting and retaining qualified special education teachers is a problem many rural school districts are facing. Districts in rural areas suffer from a lack of qualified special education teacher candidates. Accordingly, the issue of having enough qualified special educators is not easily solved. It is not just a question of turning out enough graduates, but finding candidates that are capable of teaching and being successful in a rural setting. A partnership between school districts, colleges, and communities will provide a framework for future success. This partnership will benefit both future teachers and the rural students they serve.

Comparing Special Education Teachers’ Personality Profile With Their Choice To Teach, Laron A. Scott, Lauren Bruno, Philip Gnilka, Lindsay Kozachuk, Katherine Brendli, Vivian Vitullo

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Researchers have yet to examine the association of Holland personality profiles as it relates to special education teachers. In response to this need, we report the personality and vocational profiles (Holland Codes) of 134 special education teachers across a special education training program. The purpose of this paper is to summarize findings from the Self-Directed Search measure commonly used to assess the personality of participants in an occupation and suggest implications for participants’ choice in becoming a special education teacher. Our focus was on personality match with vocational choice to include participants’ demographic (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, and geographical location) profile. …

Will They Stay Or Will They Go? Analysis Of The 2019 Doe Working Conditions Survey, Jonathan D. Becker, Valerie Robnolt, Kasey Dye, Erica Ross

MERC Publications

This report is part of the MERC Teacher Retention study. This study was designed to identify patterns of teacher retention in the MERC region and to determine the school and system-level factors driving them. The study also provides an overview of state and regional policies and programs relevant to teacher retention, and includes evaluations of existing policies and initiatives to determine efficacy and cost benefit. Teacher shortages continue to be a problem in the United States. While a range of policy solutions have attempted to stem the loss of teachers, at the base of many of these efforts is the …

Motivational Factors Leading To Exceptional Student Education As A Career Choice, Annissa Brockington

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Districts nationwide continue to face the challenge of recruiting and retaining quality teachers for the classroom. The teacher shortage issue is bleaker when seeking teachers to fill some of the most critical subject areas needed such as math, science, and exceptional student education. The purpose of this study was to understand the motivational factors that contribute to an ESE teacher’s decision to remain in the teaching field. Over 600 ESE teachers were surveyed and asked to rate their satisfaction level over a range of multiple factors, and 247 teachers responded to the survey. Using quantitative methodology, a one-sample t test …

The Resiliency Of Veteran Preschool Special Education Teachers, Monisola Komolafe

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the perceived factors that led to the resiliency and retention of veteran preschool special education teachers in public schools in California.

Methodology: This study utilized a phenomenological design to gain insight into the perceived factors influencing veteran preschool special education teachers’ resiliency and career decision to continue teaching in the field of special education for at least 10 years. Using snowball sampling, 12 preschool teachers employed in public schools in Solano County with at least 10 years of experience were selected to participate in the study. Qualitative data …

A_Case_Study_Of_Factors_That_Influenced_The_Attrition_Or_Retention_Of_Two_First-Year_Special_Education_Teachers.Pdf, Marquis Grant

Marquis C. Grant, Ed.D

Stakeholders’ Perceptions Of Special Education Induction Programs, Jeremy E. Vittek, Kim K. Floyd, Sharon B. Hayes

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study examined stakeholders’ perceptions of the challenges and supports provided for beginning special education teachers in a low attrition district within a middle Atlantic state utilizing qualitative methods. The findings from this study revealed a perceived need for varied supports for beginning special education teachers, the special education coordinator is seen as the main source of support, and the perceived role of induction programs to retain special education teachers and the impact these programs have on teacher retention. Based on the findings from this study, future research should examine the role of e-mentoring, district level support, and the role …

A Comparison Of Special Education Teachers’ And Administrators’ Perceptions Of School Climate Factors Leading To Teacher Attrition, Jennifer C. Boeddeker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined (a) the difference between special education teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions of school climate factors that influence special education teacher attrition and (b) differences among the four school climate factors perceived by school personnel. School climate was measured in professional development, collaboration, working conditions, and leadership. Participants were 29 administrators and 62 special education teachers from a large metropolitan school district in the Southwest United States. A 52 item online questionnaire was used for data collection. Special education teachers perceived school climate factors as more influential in promoting teacher attrition than did administrators. When the four school climate …

Special Education Teacher Retention: An Examination Of Teachers' Perceptions Of Administrative Support And Intent To Stay In Teaching, William G. Weiss

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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