The Role of Collaboration in Secondary Agriculture Teacher Career Satisfaction and Career Retention

Abstract

The teaching profession is not without its share of challenges. Many teachers enter the professional ranks only to immediately search for the nearest exit. Teacher socialization has been shown to improve teachers’ professional outlooks, slowing the exodus. In this phenomenological study, nine interviews were conducted with three experienced, mid-career, secondary agriculture teachers. Two questions guided the research: How do experienced secondary agriculture teachers (1) perceive and (2) experience the role of teacher collaboration in their career satisfaction and retention? Findings suggest profession- al collaboration had a positive impact on teachers’ career satisfaction, lessening the impact of challenges related to dissatisfaction and leading to greater retention.