Four Reasons Teacher Quit

Introduction

Are you terrified of teacher turnover? Do you feel ill equipped to handle the needs of your teachers? Do you find yourself without enough time to interact and support your teachers in the way that you would want? It does not have to be this way. You can understand the reasons teachers quit connected to teacher turnover and address them. I am Dr. Mary Rivers, and I am the founder of Teacher Retention Academy. I help education leaders like you retain new teachers so that you can focus on developing them. In this short article, I will give you as much information as I can about the four primary reasons teachers quit. At the end of this article, I will give you the opportunity to learn more.

Compensation and Benefits

Teachers do not feel compensated in accordance with their qualifications. Teachers make less than similarly college-educated nonteachers, and the gap in pay discrepancy has increased in recent years. Teacher wages are 32.9% less than nonteacher college graduates as of 2021 (Allegretto, 2022). Salaries are often the top issue on teachers’ minds. Despite have higher degrees and certifications, salaries can barely cover families expenses, depending on the geographic region, district policies, and personal circumstances where teachers work. In addition, salary raises often do not keep pace with inflation. Addressing teacher pay remains a critical component in attracting new teachers and improving teacher retention.

Working Conditions and Workload

Teachers feel work environments contribute to their feelings of stress and burnout. Teachers feel that their workloads are always increasing with rarely anything removed. Excessive demands without increased support lead teachers to feelings of burnout. A 2021 survey showed that six out of ten teachers reported job-related stress on a consistent basis (Will, 2021). In low-income communities where teachers lack resources and support, the attrition rate is higher as teachers feel overwhelmed and undervalued. Workload and working conditions have a negative impact on teachers, leading to stress, feelings of being overwhelmed, and higher attrition.

Lack of Support and Professional Development

Teachers want more support and professional development to address the day-to-day issues and requirements of the job. Administrators play a critical role in helping teachers feel the organization values them. In addition, teachers need opportunities for growth to help improve their skills and student outcomes. Teachers can feel undervalued if they receive insufficient administrative support. Furthermore, they want opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge to prevent them from feeling stagnate in their careers, especially since teaching lacks opportunities for job advancement. Sufficient support and professional development helps teachers to grow, feel valued, and tackle day-to-day requirements of the job.

Administrative Issues and Bureaucracy

Teachers feel administrators are too busy or under too much regulation in order to give the support teachers need. Administrators tout open-door policies; yet, many are not available or express the need to rush as they have little time to meet. Moreover, today’s culture where lawsuits are prevalent requires principals to examine every issue for legal repercussions. This leaves teachers feeling their interactions with principals are rigid and impersonal. Teacher retention requires administrators to find time for teachers and ways to make personal connections.

Summary

By understanding the four primary reasons teachers quit, you can address the causes of teacher attrition and focus on strategies that help to improve retention. Addressing teachers’ concerns is critical to successful retention efforts.

As promised, if you would like to go deeper into retaining new teachers, so you can focus on developing them, consider joining my training: Teacher Retention Academy.

References

Allegretto, S. (2022). The teacher pay penalty has hit a new high: Trends in teacher wages and compensation through 2021. Economic Policy Institute. https://files.eric.ed.gov/
fulltext/ED622883.pdf

Will, M. (2021). Teachers are not ok, even though we need them to be. Education Week, 41(5),
14-16. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-are-not-ok-even-though-we-need-them-to-be/2021/09#:~:text=Sixty%20percent%20of%20teachers%20say,
Research%20Center%20conducted%20in%20July.