Supporting Teacher Colleagues Following a Miscarriage

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: The Personal Is Professional: How Teachers Navigate the Demands of Family and Work (Table 2)

Abstract

Despite the emotional grief and physical trauma many teachers endure because of pregnancy loss, teachers often must face the challenges of the classroom with limited supports in place. This qualitative study centers on teachers’ experiences of miscarriage and the unique challenges they encountered in the classroom and school environment. Through a multi-stage research process involving 47 questionnaire responses and 27 in-depth interviews, we share findings of the challenges teachers who experienced miscarriage faced at work and the supports they need. Given the potential influence a miscarriage has on a teacher’s wellbeing and classroom pedagogy, the educational and scholarly community has a critical responsibility to better understand the impact on teachers and the unique challenges they face in the classroom.

Authors

• Dulcey Hunter, University of South Florida - Tampa

• Mandie Bevels Dunn, University of South Florida - Tampa