Valuing Early Career Teachers: Putting the Brakes on the Exodus

Abstract

<p>The attrition of early career teachers has been</p> <p>identified as an international issue. This paper</p> <p>reports on an Australian study that sought to</p> <p>identify the lived experiences of beginning</p> <p>teachers in one independent school system</p> <p>in their first three years. Areas such as the</p> <p>teacher’s job satisfaction and impacting factors</p> <p>were addressed. Data revealed that the main</p> <p>drivers for teachers terminating their teaching</p> <p>career in the first few years are connected to</p> <p>work/life balance, the level of support from</p> <p>administration, the teacher’s mentor, and the</p> <p>level and appropriateness of the professional</p> <p>development they are permitted to attend.</p>