This small scale study looks at the challenges teachers face and their attitudes. Drawing from the literature on teacher attrition, teacher burnout, and teacher collective efficacy, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a group of five teachers selected from a convenience sample. Three themes emerged: teachers struggle with students' apathy, they are challenged by the hierarchical nature of school decision making, and how they define their community appears to impact their attitude toward their work. Teachers who feel they have a place in the community of their school report more positive attitudes toward their work. This research adds to the knowledge base on teachers' experiences and may help us address challenges teachers face.