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Mississippi State University Scholars Junction Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2008 The Teacher Shortage: Factors that Influence the Recruitment, Retention, and Attrition of Teachers in Selected Mississippi Teacher Shortage Area Gloria (Gloria Diane) Hayes Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td Recommended Citation Hayes, Gloria (Gloria Diane), "The Teacher Shortage: Factors that Influence the Recruitment, Retention, and Attrition of Teachers in Selected Mississippi Teacher Shortage Area" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 4674. https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/4674 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Scholars Junction. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Junction. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE TEACHER SHORTAGE: FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND ATTRITION OF TEACHERS IN SELECTED MISSISSIPPI TEACHER SHORTAGE AREAS By Gloria Hayes A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Secondary Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Mississippi State, Mississippi December 2008 THE TEACHER SHORTAGE: FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND ATTRITION OF TEACHERS IN SELECTED MISSISSIPPI TEACHER SHORTAGE AREAS By Gloria Hayes Approved: _____________________________ ____________________________ Burnette Wolf Hamil Peggy F. Hopper Associate Professor of Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction Curriculum & Instruction (Director of Dissertation) (Co-Director of Dissertation) ______________________________ _______________________________ James E. Davis Nancy Verhoek-Miller Assistant Professor of Instructional Professor of Curriculum & Systems, Leadership & Workforce Instruction Development (Committee Member) (Minor Professor) _____________________________ ____________________________ William A. Person Linda Coats Interim Dean/Interim Associate Interim Department Head and Vice President/Professor Associate Professor Office of the Graduate School Graduate Coordinator (Committee Member) Curriculum and Instruction __________________________________ Richard Blackbourn Dean of College of Education Name: Gloria Hayes Date of Degree: December 12, 2008 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Secondary Education Dissertation Director: Dr. Burnette Wolf Hamil Co-Director: Dr. Peggy F. Hopper Title of Study: THE TEACHER SHORTAGE: FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND ATTRITION OF TEACHERS IN THE MISSISSIPPI TEACHER SHORTAGE AREAS Pages of Study: 154 Candidate for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction The primary purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of the teacher shortage in the Mississippi Delta region, and to investigate the factors which seem to influence the attrition and retention of teachers. This study employed a non- experimental quantitative investigation designed to analyze survey data. The sample for this study included selected K-12 teachers employed in school districts in the Mississippi Delta region, and two non-Delta school districts. 436 teachers participated in the study. The study was designed to answer questions on the commitment level of currently employed teachers in the Mississippi Delta region. Data were collected using a 4 - point Likert response scale. All data were entered and analyzed using a SAS Multiple Regression (stepwise) program. In addition, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means in each section and to report observed variance in the different parts. A t-test was performed to analyze the differences in the responses of the Delta and non-Delta schools in terms of commitment levels. With the level of significance for inclusion established at p<0.05, the researcher was able to determine that age, years of teaching experience, and salary were insignificant. Results also revealed number of years teaching in the district and race were found to be statistically significant. The researcher did not find any differences in commitment levels or any other variables in the responses of the Delta and non-Delta teacher participants. DEDICATION This manuscript is dedicated in loving memory to: Melzena Sims-Hayes, my grandmother, Theodore Hayes, Sr., my father, Dannie Hobbs, Jr., and Herbert Hayes, my uncles, and Josephine Hayes Mayfield, and Clarastine Hayes Lovely my aunts whose encouragement, words of wisdom and motivation were truly an inspiration to me. Also to Frances Hobbs Hayes, my mother and Francis Sims Murphy, my great aunt. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I thank God for providing me with the health, strength, and perseverance to complete this dissertation. Sincere appreciation is extended to Dr. Burnette Wolf Hamil for serving as director of this dissertation, and for her constant guidance and support. Her assistance, time, patience and encouragement have been invaluable to my personal and professional growth during my work at Mississippi State University. Sincere thanks is extended to Dr. Peggy F. Hopper for serving as co-director of this dissertation, for her valuable suggestions, guidance and encouragement throughout this research project, and for her contribution to my professional growth during my work at Mississippi State University. Sincere thanks is also extended to Dr. Nancy Verhoek-Miller for her valuable input, ideas, and suggestions relative to this research project, and for her contribution toward my professional growth. Sincere thanks is also extended to Dr. William A. Person for serving as a committee member, and for his suggestions and ideas in this project. Sincere thanks is also extended to Dr. James E. Davis for serving as committee member and for sharing his expertise. Special thanks is extended to Dr. Burnett Joiner for his untiring support, encouragement, guidance, networking and expertise in this research project, and for his contribution to my professional growth. Special thanks is also extended to iii Dr. Corey Amaker and Mr. Jessie Bellinger for their expertise and patience in assisting me with the computer analysis of the data. Heartfelt thanks go out to the following people who contributed to the achievement of this endeavor: Dr. Malqueen Richardson, Glen Ward Hobbs, Betty Winters Bibbs, Dr. Wayne Adams, the superintendents, principals, and teachers in the Mississippi Teacher Shortage school districts who participated in the study, Dr. Sheila K. Ruhland, Jordan Goins, Jacqueline Hollins, Margaret Pollard, Wendolyn Thomas, Jearline Bryant, Dr. Charles Pickett, Sr., Dr. Margaret Felder- Wilson, Dr. Ronald Speight, Mississippi Department of Education Teacher Center staff, Dr. Daphne Buckley, Ann Necaise, Dr. Tony Latiker, and Wesley Williams. Many thanks are due to special friends, family, and colleagues for their constant prayers and endless support through the years: Ruby Smote-Miller, Louess Applewhite, John Paul Davis, Carl Bibbs, Ruth Windom-Eden, Dorothy Gregory- Woods, Earnestine Miller, Rev. J. B. Brown, Rev. Timothy Daniels, Merrion M. Johnson, Minister Jessie Mary Boykins, Minister Ethel Parker, E. C. Gary, Hellene Greer, Hattie Robinson, Beneva Henry, Chester Harrington, Sheila Renae Hayes, Flora and Charlie Tyson, the Winona Cohere Choir, Maggie Woods-Forrest, Vern Webbs, Valerie Smith, Shirley O. Moore-Phillips, Willie Ozell Collins, Rev. and Mrs. Leroy Campbell, Fifth District Heroines of Jericho and Friendship Court # 180. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ...................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. iii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................ viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Study .............................................................................. 5 Significance of the Study ....................................................................... 6 Scope, Limitations, and Assumptions of the Study ............................... 10 Definition of Terms................................................................................ 12 Summary ................................................................................................ 15 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE................................................................. 16 Teacher Shortage: A Problem of Attraction, Distribution, And Retention ................................................................................... 16 Reasons for the Teacher Shortage .......................................................... 25 Rural Schools in America ...................................................................... 32 Out-of-Field Teaching: A National Crisis ............................................. 35 Strategies to Address Teacher Shortage ................................................ 39 Teacher Mentoring Programs ................................................................ 48 What are the Characteristics and Activities of Mentoring? ........... 51 What Benefits Does Mentoring Bring to the Educational System? ..................................................................................

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