Early career teacher attrition: intentions of teachers beginning

Abstract

Early career teacher attrition has most often been conceptualized as either a problem associated with individual factors (e.g. burnout) or a problem associated with contextual factors (e.g. support and salary). This study considered early career teacher attrition as an identity making process that involves a complex negotiation between individual and contextual factors. Forty second- and third-year teachers in rural, urban, and suburban boards across Alberta, Canada, who taught at different grade levels, were interviewed about their experiences with attention to their future intentions. The semi-structured interviews were analyzed in two ways: simple descriptive statistics on demographic data and thematic analysis of the interviews. The seven themes, developed inductively, were: (1) support; (2) an identity thread of belonging; (3) tensions around contracts; (4) new teachers will do anything; (5) balancing composing a life: Working hours; (6) the struggle to not allow teaching to consume them; and (7) can I keep doing this? Is this teaching? The results of the study prompted questions about how beginning teachers might be sustained by considering each person’s storied life, as well as about how teachers might be sustained on both their personal and professional knowledge landscapes.

Keywords:

• teacher professionalism
• teacher thinking
• teacher knowledge

Notes

1. In Alberta a temporary contract, as in many other Canadian provinces, means the position has a set end date. An individual on a probationary contract is in a position that could potentially become a continuing contract if their principal recommends them for a long-term continuing contract. Someone on a continuing contract is in a tenured position.