What Keeps Our Mid-Career Teachers: Who Stays, Where, and Why?

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Motivations to Teach

Abstract

Who and where are mid-career teachers (5 to 20 years-teaching-experience) who stay in the teaching profession, and why do they stay? This quantitative study analyzed data from 2015-2016-NTPS. Do demographic factors-race, school location and school climate and teacher attitude factors-job satisfaction, career pathway and opportunities, support from administrators/colleagues and/or sources beyond school leaders, input into school policy) influence a mid-career teacher’s decision to remain in the teaching profession? Findings indicate secondary and minority teachers are more likely to stay in the profession. Suburban mid-career teachers are more likely to remain in the profession, when compared those in urban, town and rural settings. Mid-career teachers with more positive perceptions of school climate-workplace conditions are more likely express satisfaction-remain in the profession.

Authors

• Belinda Gimbert, The Ohio State University

• Ryan Kapa, Research for Action

• Dorothy Moulthrop, The Ohio State University - Columbus