STEM Teacher Characteristics and Mobility in the American Midwest

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 12:40 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Educator Shortages: Understanding the Prevalence, Causes, and Policy Solutions (Table 12)

Abstract

This study examines the demographics, qualifications, and turnover of STEM teachers in Kansas and Missouri from 2010 through 2023. We find decreasing trends among the rates of young STEM teachers, early-career STEM teachers, and STEM certification. We observe STEM teacher turnover elevated across contexts in the two states following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, with turnover rates especially high in urban schools and schools with the highest quartiles of students of color and poverty. Our results highlight several factors of STEM teacher turnover, including salary and student demographic and socio-economic characteristics. We discuss these findings considering equitable access among students to diverse and qualified STEM teachers, as well as policy implications for sustaining the STEM teaching force in the Midwest.

Authors

• Chanh Bao Lam, Kansas State University

• Yujia Liu, University of Missouri

• J. Cameron Anglum, Lehigh University

• Tuan D Nguyen, University of Missouri