ERIC Number: ED636362
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 142
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3798-9722-2
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Uncovering Truths: A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study on Early Childcare Education Teacher Retention and Turnover
Holland, Charity Yvette
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Northcentral University
Retention and turnover for early childcare education teachers have steadily become a problem. It is now more important than ever to have passionate and skilled teachers available to help grow the minds of young children. The problem addressed in this study was that early childcare education teachers were not staying in the field. The purpose of the qualitative exploratory case study was to gather detailed information about the experiences early childcare education teachers encountered and why they were leaving the field. A sample of eight central Indiana teachers from two preschools were recruited to participate in the study. After using data from an initial survey questionnaire, emails were sent to the directors. Follow-up semi-structured interviews were completed, and a focus group was formed. I utilized a qualitative method and an exploratory case study design to examine the collective experiences. Data findings led to identifying one theme related to Research Question 1, four themes related to Research Question 2, and one theme related to Research Question 3. The results led to the following recommendations: (a) have programs in place to welcome new teachers by also evaluating them more to determine fit for the field to reduce initial challenges; (b) create systems (policies and procedures) in early education that are easy to maintain that reflect protocol and practices to increase communication; (c) set regularly scheduled training sessions for staff which includes a review of information they should know, new concepts to introduce, and potential growth opportunities and promotion; (d) create manuals that have checkpoints within the training where critical members in the facility can be assigned to train new early childcare education teachers, following up with impactful connectors to directors within the facility. Additionally, suggestions for further research include: (a) complete the study over a more extended period by perhaps using teachers with less experience, (b) attempt the study by direct observation, and (c) duplicate the study using quantitative research rather than qualitative. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Teachers, Teacher Persistence, Faculty Mobility, Preschools, Teacher Attitudes
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Indiana
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A