Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2017
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Department
Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Committee Chair
Raynice Jean-Sigur
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Douglas Bell
Second Committee Member
Camille Sutton-Brown-Fox
Abstract
This qualitative autoethnographic study explores the phenomenon of teacher turnover as it relates to the researcher’s specific contexts and personal experiences. Through the acts of journaling, coaching, and narrative writing, teachers can better understand influences of culture on their beliefs, values, attitudes, and decisions – especially in regards to actions of movement from one setting to another. The findings indicate that beliefs, values, attitudes, and decisions are learned through a school’s culture, and they can change depending on perspective. The findings also indicate that there is power in dialogue – even for teachers who never felt they had influence or a voice at all.