Intervening in Teacher Turnover With Constructive Adaptations

• In Event: Division L Roundtable Session 2

Abstract

The goal of this project is to develop local, low-cost, and targeted solutions to reduce teacher turnover and shortages. To do so, this project seeks to identify strategies to increase teacher retention by identifying adaptive leverage points along the socio-cognitive process of job dissatisfaction and withdrawal. Through a series of in-depth interviews with teachers across Alabama, this ongoing research maps teacher responses to dissatisfaction along the Exit-Voice-Loyalty-Neglect (EVLN) framework. We present results on ‘image violations’ as a source of dissatisfaction, describing a sense of de-professionalization in the field. 11 types of responses to image violations are detailed, along with recommendations to help teachers and school leaders guide negative and destructive responses towards more positive and constructive adaptations.

Author

• Andrew Pendola, Auburn University