Israeli special education preschool teachers’ job satisfaction: an investigation of the predictive value of professional identity and social support

ABSTRACT

This study used mixed methods to explore how Israeli special education preschool teachers’ professional identity and social support predict their job satisfaction. Participants in the quantitative portion included 192 Jewish special education preschool teachers (Mage = 34.37, SD = 8.75) with an average of 10.66 (SD = 8.40) years teaching. A separate sample of 10 teachers (Mage = 37.77, SD = 5.86; Mexperience = 7.7 years, SD = 3.98) participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative results revealed that professional identity related to type of preschool framework and job satisfaction, but only experience and social support significantly predicted job satisfaction. Qualitative results supported the quantitative results, emphasizing themes of satisfaction, challenges, and coping mechanisms, particularly the importance of social support. Additional support for these teachers can promote job satisfaction, facilitate retention and teacher well-being and foster better outcomes for children with special needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Mixed-methods
• experience
• special needs
• disabilities
• retention
• early education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Raaya Alon

Dr. Raaya Alon is Head of the Department of Special Education at Michlalah College, Jerusalem, where she teaches in the B.A. program as well as in the M.A. program in Educational Counseling. She is a graduate of the first post-doctoral program at the MOFET Institute. Dr. Alon's studies deal with various aspects relating to families of children with special needs and their education.

Deborah Bergman Deitcher

Dr. Deborah Bergman Deitcher is a Lecturer and Head of the Psychology track at the International B.A. for Liberal Arts at Tel Aviv University in Israel. Her research concentrates on various kinds of interactions between adults and young children. Deborah collaborates with researchers around the world to promote young children's developmental outcomes.