The teachers of today are navigating a profession that’s reached unprecedented complexity, from state politics to strict curriculum guidelines. For some, it may be safe to say that they’ve reached their tipping point, and that’s exactly what the research is telling us.
Only 27% of teachers say it is “very likely” that they’ll still be a teacher five years from now, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Gradient Learning Poll. Generally speaking, this feeling is shared among most teachers regardless of their tenure. For instance, only 57% of teachers with four to 10 years of experience say they still see themselves teaching in five years.
The data reflects the responses of more than 600 educators and school leaders nationwide who attribute a variety of external pressures as the reason for their inevitable departure.
“It is so hard to hear the disparaging remarks of politicians, parents and media about schools and teachers—especially when I know how hard I work at my job and how much I invest in my students and their future,” said one middle school teacher in Oregon featured in the report. “I would like to see our profession given the respect we deserve.”
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And in terms of their overall happiness with the job, 64% said they’re less satisfied with teaching today compared to their experience before the pandemic. In comparison, a mere 9% reported feeling “very satisfied” with their careers in teaching.
For many, their dissatisfaction with the profession stems from a sheer lack of respect from important stakeholders. Specifically, 95% of teachers and school leaders cite lack of public respect as a “highly important” or “moderately important” contributor to their decision of whether to stay in the profession.
Furthermore, 80% of teachers and 87% of leaders say national politicization of K12 education is another key burden that’s pushing them out of the classroom.
So, how can we fix this?
The GLP asked educators and leaders to consider what it would take to help sustain the teaching profession. Unsurprisingly, both groups agreed that improving educators’ salaries is crucial, including having greater recognition in their community about the importance of teaching. In addition to these desires, survey respondents believe these two solutions have the power to keep more teachers in the profession:
- 73% of teachers want to build a culture of positivity and collaboration in their schools.
- 80% said they’re most satisfied when they’re supporting students beyond academic development.
“All of the data from the Gradient Learning Poll reinforce that educators crave and deserve learning environments that are rooted in respect and designed to help teachers and students do their best work,” the report reads. “This means providing school leaders and teachers with the necessary coaching and professional support they need to do what they love most: helping students thrive academically and develop the skills and values they need to succeed beyond the classroom.”
