Date of Award

11-1-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate of Education, Ed.D.

College

College of Education

Department

Education

First Advisor

Leslie Loughmiller, Ed.D.

Second Advisor

Sarah Everts, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Rinyka Allison, Ph.D.

Abstract

Early childhood education (ECE) educators’ roles in promoting the positive development of children are consistently deemed essential in research. Research also presents the severe problems of burnout and turnover in the ECE field. Specific factors such as low compensation, lack of professional development opportunities, and high-stress environments are causing continued rates of burnout across the early education arena, resulting in ECE educators leaving the field. Therefore, it is important to understand the reasons ECE educators are leaving so these challenges are recognized and remedied. A qualitative descriptive case study was used to examine the issue of ECE educator turnover due to burnout. Participants in the study consisted of ECE educators who had previously worked in an ECE program in the Midwest, and recently left this employment of their own accord. Data collected through semistructured interviews gathered the participants’ perspectives to better understand what motivated them, what challenged them, and what influenced their decision to leave. This data provides identification of the factors that ECE leaders should recognize, understand, and address to increase ECE educator retention.

Included in

Education Commons

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