Factors Influencing Teacher Burnout and Retention Strategies

Teacher attrition has become a significant problem within the field of education. Despite research reporting retention strategies and programs that can decrease this trend, teachers continue to burnout of the workforce due to stress and an inability to cope with teaching conditions. This research article explores the underlying problem of burnout, including the symptoms and extent in which they manifest, as well as possible strategies to decrease attrition and keep teachers in the classroom. By compiling research that suggests tested programs and supports that help retain teachers, both individuals and schools can explore these avenues further in hopes of combatting teacher burnout. Due to no actual data collection or study taking place, all research is based on preexisiting articles. From these articles, the history of burnout was determined as a guide to how it manifests itself in this day and age. The dimensions of these were expanded using the Maslach Burnout Scale (created by Christina Maslach in 1981) to find retention strategies that targeted each particular dimension. All research was done through a literature review that compiled effective supports schools and districts can utilize to decrease the burnout of their staff