The problem of teacher attrition was reviewed and a mixed-method study of motivational characteristics for years of persistence in a teaching career was conducted. Ninety-two second, third, or fourth grade urban public school teachers who taught for five years or more were surveyed in order to gather quantitative data on the five motivational…

It is estimated that 50% of beginning teachers leave the profession within the first five years on the job (Murnane, Singer, Willett, Kemple, & Olsen, 1991; Colbert & Wolff, 1992; Ingersoll, 2003b; Schlechty & Vance, 1981). When teachers depart, they take with them their knowledge of instructional techniques, students' learning styles, and…