Faith as a Factor in Teacher Resilience and Retention

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Seventeen
  In Roundtable Session: The Power of Spirituality in Education (Table 15)

Abstract

This large-scale study examined teachers’ faith and its relationship to resilience and retention. A survey of 389 teachers of faith indicated teachers used spiritual disciplines to manage work stress. Even though teachers indicated stressful work environments, they had strong job satisfaction and planned to teach for the length of their careers. The results suggested that teachers’ faith aids in managing work stress, potentially acting as a protective factor contributing to teacher resilience and retention. Findings also underscored politics/legal issues as a new potential risk factor threatening resilience and retention. Implications for teacher education programs, especially in faith-based institutions, included purposeful incorporation of spiritual disciplines as a means to prepare and support teacher resilience.

Authors

• Lorelei R. Coddington, Biola University
  Presenting Author

• Nicholas C. Block, Biola University
  Presenting Author