Teacher Job Satisfaction in an Elementary and Secondary Virtual Education Setting PDF Download

Author: Carmita Carlotta Haynes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Academic achievement
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
ABSTRACT: Virtual public school have become the fastest growing alternative for parents with children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. No matter the medium of educational delivery (i.e., brick-mortar or online), a teacher shortage exists. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to determine factors that contributed to job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction of current elementary an secondary teachers serving in the virtual classroom. Thirty-eight participants responded to an electronic questionnaire of 21 open-response questions related to various aspects of teacher job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction in the virtual classroom. Collected data were analyzed via coding to identify emerging themes. Findings identified multiple themes related to teacher job satisfaction in the virtual teaching environment: (a) autonomy to teach, (b) building relationships with families, (c) flexible schedules, (d) administrative support and (e) the novelty and challenges of a new teaching environment. Factors perceived by teachers related to job dissatisfaction in the virtual classroom included: (a) limited compensation, (b) lack of administrative support, (c) lack of face-to-face proximity with students and colleagues, (d) corporate structure of online educational organizations, (e) lack of career advancement, and (f) issues with technology (e.g., internet connectivity; a technological learning curve). Findings from this study offer valuable insight to educational leaders who aim to attract and hire new virtual teachers and retain current virtual teachers as the teacher shortage persists and student enrollment in virtual schools continues to rise.