Date

8-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

Executive Summary

An Analysis of Support for and Attrition Among Teachers in a Southern Middle School. Sahira Wadley, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords:  academic achievement, administrative support, school climate, self-efficacy, strategic plan, teacher attrition, teacher retention

This strategic research project was designed to provide a thorough analysis of teacher attrition at Tri-County Middle School (a pseudonym), a rural Title I middle school in a southern state. The strategic research project was completed to examine the organization’s internal and external environments through a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, internal factor evaluation, external factor evaluation, and quantitative strategic planning matrix to determine the root causes of teacher attrition and develop an evidence-based strategic solution that could be implemented with the designed action plan to improve teacher retention at Tri-County Middle School.

The strategic analysis identified teacher attrition as the Tri-County’s most significant challenge, with extreme workload, low compensation, inadequate administrative support, and unfavorable working conditions evolving as the major contributing factors. The following three evidence-based solutions were evaluated: (a) strengthening administrative support, (b) increasing teacher compensation, and (c) improving working conditions. After a review of current scholarly literature, improving working conditions was identified as the most appropriate solution, with reduction of teacher workload identified as the highest priority implementation strategy. Lastly, an action plan was developed that included assessing current teacher workload, providing professional development and administrative support, employing workload reduction initiatives, monitoring implementation progress, and assessing outcomes through teacher surveys, classroom observations, retention data, and feedback. In conclusion, sustainable organizational improvement requires collaborative leadership, evidence-based decision-making, continuous evaluation, and stakeholder engagement to ensure continuing success.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice

Concentration

Instructional Technology and Distance Education (ITDE)

Language

English

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