Why teachers are leaving and what we can do about it

Abstract

Teaching has always been a demanding profession, and the demands have only escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. David T. Marshall, Tim Pressley, Natalie M. Neugebauer, & David M. Shannon review research from before and during the pandemic to learn what makes teachers likely to leave the profession and share results from their May 2022 survey of 830 teachers. Around three-fourths of teachers surveyed had considered leaving their positions during the 2022-23 school year, with more than half considering positions outside education. Teachers describe the increased workload, ongoing stress, and lack of support from administrators and parents as factors that led them to consider leaving.

Teacher stress and COVID-19: Where do we go from here?

“…Stress not only impacts teachers’ professional capabilities, it also undermines their personal welfare. It remains to be seen how many teachers will decide to enter, or remain, in the profession in upcoming years, but a crisis could be brewing if immediate and concrete steps are not taken to promote the occupational health of teachers (see Marshall et al, 2022, in this issue for more on the potential retention crisis).…”

Factors that influence beginning teacher retention during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from one Canadian province

“…For older teachers, having “a health condition” that puts them under greater risk by exposure to COVID-19, risking a “loved ones” health by working in the public, and not being prepared for “online instruction” by way of training were cited reasons for early leaving ( Dilberti et al 2021 ; p. 7). The January 2021 RAND report identified similar findings of teacher frustration, reports of potential attrition, low levels of career satisfaction, and poor teacher well-being ( Marshall et al., 2022 ). In addition, Canadian research at provincial and national levels similarly identified high levels of teacher burnout and stress as evidenced in the beginning and secondary stages of the pandemic ( Sokal et al., 2020 , 2021 ).…”

Teacher Morale, Job Satisfaction, and Burnout in Schools of Choice Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…During the 2020-2021 school year, studies found that between 25% and 55% of teachers considered leaving their job (Jotkoff, 2022;Marshall et al, 2022a;Steiner & Woo, 2021). By the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year, about three-fourths of teachers reported considering leaving the profession (Ayapong et al, 2022;Marshall et al, 2022b). This is important because of the negative relationship between teacher burnout and self-efficacy (Billett et al, 2022;Savas et al, 2014;Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2010).…”