Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted changes to the terms and conditions of teachers' employment (e.g. working conditions), leading school districts to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements with teachers' unions. However, limited research has examined how these negotiations occur in times of crisis. This study aims to analyze how school…

The purpose of this research was to explore the effects of organizational culture on teacher retention in Richland County School District 2 in Columbia, South Carolina. This qualitative phenomenological research explored the participants' experiences and perceptions of the phenomenon under study. This was done by interviewing 12 participants to…

Teacher turnover is a perennial concern, especially in low-performing, high-poverty schools. While districts and schools may try to anticipate and mitigate turnover by surveying teachers about their future plans, existing research on whether teacher-reported intent is predictive of actual turnover behavior is mixed. Using unique survey data from…

This research project aims to understand what elementary teachers need from internal communication systems to promote trust and engagement within their school and across the district. The data for this project was collected through a sequential mixed-method approach that included a survey of all elementary teachers in the school district, as well…

How stressed are school superintendents? What are the reasons for their stress? To find out, authors surveyed 150 superintendents in American School District Panel member districts. In spring 2023, 79 percent of superintendents reported that their jobs were "often" or "always" stressful. Superintendents most commonly cited the…

In today's ever-changing educational climate, educators are challenged now more than ever to be effective in the education of our young people. School districts across the United States face teacher shortages due to the unyielding demands of education. These demands can be a strain on the overall well-being of a teacher. In addition, workplace…

The goal of safely and sustainably reopening K-12 school buildings for in-person learning is widely recognized as critical to minimizing the impact of academic, social, emotional, and mental strains brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order for in-person learning to succeed on an ongoing basis, schools must be able to offer safe…

A nationwide teacher shortage has been a problem in our country for many years. Teacher vacancies continue to be plentiful, but enrollment in teacher preparatory programs continues to decline. This study aimed to investigate low teacher retention in rural Alabama schools. Through the lens of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, this study examined…

Leadership gurus often put creating a "shared vision" at the top of their pyramid of what successful leaders do. These visions are best when they are an anchor or a North Star -- unwavering goals that the district works toward. Author Jon Saphier proposes this North Star for districts: Make every school an engine for continuous…

Each year, SC TEACHER administers the SC Teacher Exit Survey to public K-12 classroom teachers who are not renewing their teaching contracts. The survey is designed to offer insights into how working conditions and other factors relate to teachers' decisions to either teach in another school district or leave the classroom. This report highlights…

Burnout among educators has been a growing concern in the field of education. Although there has been much research into the factors causing educators, there has been limited research into causes of burnout specifically for the midlevel school leaders such as assistant principals, instructional coaches, and school deans. This study sought to…

Educators, policymakers, philanthropists, and others have worked for decades to improve education by implementing new policies and practices to better serve students. But the desired improvement has been elusive -- more sporadic (and anecdotal) than systemic. Success can be difficult to sustain, and what works in one school may not work on the…

When teachers and school staff work together, it inevitably involves issues of power, influence, diplomacy, and cooperation; this has been termed "micropolitics," and the ability to read situations with micropolitics in mind has been identified as "micropolitical literacy." The purpose of this year-long case study was to…

The position of a school building administrator is overwhelming with multiple responsibilities, long hours, and job pressures. Due to these factors, there is a negative impact on mental health and a high rate of burnout for administrators. This study reviews the factors that contribute to negative mental health and administrator burnout, and…

This case study explored the impacts of school shootings on K-12 school principals. Eleven school principals and assistant principals from rural, suburban, and urban areas in all regions of the United States were interviewed. The study answered two research questions: What impact do school shootings have on school principals? and What do…