Job Satisfaction: A Survey of Teachers in a Midwestern Public School District
Gina G. Berridge, PhD & Clarissa Willis, PhD
Abstract
Teacher shortages are becoming a reality in most states across this nation. Some of the challenges teachers face include low pay, accountability for student achievement, and low public confidence in the education system. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of teachers in a Midwestern school district with a high number of students who come from at-risk backgrounds. This study examines their beliefs about the teaching profession and identifies the stressors that might result in their seeking other career options. Teachers in this study felt valued by the community and their administration which would relate to high job satisfaction, however, teachers report low morale, pressure to teach to the test, feeling that teachers were viewed in a negative way, and an insecurity about their job. While most of the teachers believed they were making a lasting impression on their students, only thirty-five percent would recommend teaching as a profession to family and friends.