A Transcendental Phenomenological Study of Novice Teachers Administrative Support Experiences in High-Poverty High-Minority Rural South Carolina Schools

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to develop a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of novice teachers who remain teaching in high-poverty, high-minority rural schools in South Carolina in relation to the administrative support they received. The research questions guiding this study are: (1) How do novice teachers describe their administrative support experiences in high-poverty, high-minority schools? (2) How do novice teachers in high-poverty, high-minority rural schools describe administrative emotional and social support experiences? (3) How do novice teachers in high-poverty, high-minority rural schools describe administrative instructional support experiences in high-poverty, high-minority rural schools? This study intended to capture the authentic voice of novice teachers who teach in high-poverty, high-minority rural schools in South Carolina. The theory guiding this study was House’s (1981) theory of social support as it grounds research that administrative behaviors such as leadership style, feedback, and support impact teacher career decisions. The method for this transcendental phenomenological study incorporated purposeful sampling, individual in-depth interviews and focus groups as the primary data collection methods. Data in this phenomenological study was analyzed by using reduction methods and analyzing specific statements to reveal overarching themes as recommended by Moustakas (1994)