Stress in Alabama’s Education Employees: Intensity, Manifestation, Connection to Turnover Intentions, and Alleviation Techniques

Abstract

Schools across America are filled with educators who are skilled in their craft but stressed with their work, which is leading to alarming rates of burnout, turnover, and attrition. Much of the existing professional literature addressing public education largely identifies financial limitations as the driving force behind these challenges, but more recent research has looked at alternative factors such as working conditions, workplace demands, and collaborative support as potential reasons behind their frustrations. This study builds upon and advances possible reasons behind the profession’s challenges, looks at how the stress factors manifest themselves and vary by demographics, reviews employees’ considerations for leaving the workplace and profession, and more. Additionally, policy considerations and modifications in professional practice that could be targeted to improve classroom climate, reduce educator stress, increase student learning, and contribute to increased teacher recruitment and retention are presented.