The Effect of School Culture on Teacher Retention

• Main Author: Diaz, Nicholas A
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Educational leadership; Educational sociology
• ISBN: 9798780640141

This study examined the effect of school culture on teacher retention by looking at various aspects of a school’s climate. The goal of this study was to provide the educational community with data and current strategies to enhance teacher job satisfaction and to increase teacher retention rates. Teachers in Northwest New Jersey public schools within a rural setting were explored in this study. The study was designed as a quantitative research project that collected data via a survey. Anecdotal data was also collected by reviewing teacher resignation and retirements among schools in Northwest New Jersey. The survey was distributed to all teachers in Northwest New Jersey. The survey focused on various aspects of school climate and asked participants to self-report their perception of their school climate. The data collected from the survey was analyzed through an independent sample t-test to test for a significant correlation between the reported views of school climate and one of three demographic subgroups. Study results indicated that there is not a significant statistical relationship between teachers' perceptions and particular demographic subgroups. However, among the demographic subgroup of novice and veteran teachers, there were several items on the survey tool that approached statistical significance.