When to Hold ‘em and When to Fold ‘em: Teacher Sense of Belonging and Turnover

• In Event: Investigating the Relationship of Climate With Teacher Turnover and Well-Being

Abstract

School climate research largely focuses on students, however, recent scholarship highlights the importance of relationships for teacher well-being. While a sense of belonging has a host of benefits for individual and community well-being, little is known about how educator sense of belonging may influence teacher decisions to leave their position. Given the negative impact of teacher turnover on school climate, further research attention is warranted. We surveyed educators in one school district in California in fall 2023 and spring 2024 and found a significant and robust relationship between sense of belonging and intent to leave—even when controlling variables such as job satisfaction— suggesting that fostering a sense of belonging can offer an avenue to address teacher turnover.

Authors

• Peter Bjorklund, University of California - San Diego

• Jennifer Karnopp, San Diego State University