Challenges for Beginning Secondary Technology Education Teachers

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe challenges faced by beginning technology education (TE) teachers in [state]. Background: The highest attrition rates are among beginning teachers and with a continued shortage of TE teachers, identifying the problems new teachers encounter need to be identified for retention and the sustainability of the TE profession. Method: A qualitative research design using an online questionnaire was completed by 27 [state] TE teachers who had taught four or fewer years. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: facility management, student management, external relations, and instruction management. Each theme contained subthemes; the predominant subthemes were equipment and funding. Conclusions: By adequately preparing TE teachers at the pre-service and entry levels to handle potential problems, the profession can increase job satisfaction and reduce teacher attrition in efforts to eradicate the TE teacher national shortage. Application: Implications for TE teacher education programs, administration, and professional development are discussed