Salary and benefits are major factors that affect teacher retention and satisfaction. Based on the demanding workload and the school environment, many teachers believe they do not receive equitable pay for the amount of work required. Teachers also face debt from their student loans, relocation costs and expenditures for class supplies and equipment. These elements often lead to teachers exiting the teaching profession for higher paid jobs.
Teachers with low salaries were more likely to remain in their jobs if the school system provided education scholarships, benefits, retirement plans, relocation costs and other incentives to make up for the salary shortfall, according to Karen S. Myers Giacometti, a doctoral education student performing research at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Teacher education is a factor in teacher satisfaction once the teacher begins to work in the school system. Giacometti suggested that teachers who completed a teacher education program that included classroom observations and internships remained in the school system because of their level of classroom preparedness. However, teachers without this preparation eventually would leave the profession when they faced deficiencies in subject mastery, organization and classroom management skills.
Teacher satisfaction is impacted by factors outside the control of teachers and the school district. These factors include the social issues of the school's community, the level of parental support, the amount of student diversity and the national and local economic impact. School systems with strong support system from parents, community partners and organizations tend to have a higher retention rate and teacher satisfaction, Giacometti said.
Teacher satisfaction is directly linked to the workplace environment. One of the main factors is administrative support. Teachers backed by a school administration willingly push beyond the obstacles in the classroom due to their confidence in the administration to provide resources, staffing and the necessary policies to create a school environment conducive for learning.
In addition, teacher satisfaction hinges upon school morale and safety. Teachers are less likely to leave a school where the morale is tolerable and the focus is to increase student achievement. However, if the environment is hostile due to state testing standards, lack of administrative leadership, lack of learning resources and unsafe conditions, the teachers are likely to transfer to another school or leave the profession all together.