Why Is It So Hard to Say Goodbye? Exploring Teacher Retention and Thriving Through Narrative Inquiry

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Staying Power: Narrating Teacher Identity and Becoming

Abstract

Amid widespread concern over teacher attrition, this narrative study shifts the focus from why teachers leave to why they stay. Using Darling-Hammond’s Bridge to Thriving Framework (2022), this research explores the lived experiences of four educators in urban and rural districts who have stayed in the profession despite systemic challenges. Through phenomenological interviews, participants reflect on the personal, relational, and institutional factors that support their commitment to teaching. These counter-narratives challenge dominant discourses of burnout, highlighting how community, student relationships, and leadership foster sustainability. This study contributes to narrative research that not only documents educational realities but also envisions more hopeful futures, positioning teacher retention as a space for transformation.

Author

• DaJuana Chaney Fontenot, Texas A&M University