Date

4-17-2024

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

Chair

Amy Schechter

Keywords

attrition, retention, exhaustion, burnout

Disciplines

Education | Elementary Education

Abstract

The purpose of this single-case qualitative case study was to discover the perceived influence teacher exhaustion may have on educator attrition for primary school teachers in one urban school district in central South Carolina. Abraham Maslow’s theory of human motivation was utilized as the theoretical framework for this study as it explains how an inability to meet the needs of teachers can result in teacher exhaustion and an increase in attrition. Maslow’s theory assisted in understanding how the stress and exhaustion that teachers experience can influence teacher retention in primary schools. This qualitative case study utilized a central research question: In what ways do teachers who have left the profession perceive exhaustion and its possible influence on primary teacher attrition? Data for this study was gathered using individual interviews, focus groups, and letter writing. Open coding, the patterns method, and a thematic analysis were used to analyze and synthesize the data. Utilizing a thematic analysis, the four themes that emerged were (1) insufficient support, (2) feelings of inadequacy, (3) inability to meet basic needs, and (4) toxic work environment. The findings provide information on the exhaustion teachers experience and emphasize the need to implement measures to reduce exhaustion and burnout.

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