Factors Influencing School-Based Agricultural Educator Retention and Attrition Rates

Agriculture educator retention levels remain concerning. A synthesis of research identified overall themes affecting agriculture teacher retention and attrition. Professional relations with students, administration, other teachers, and the community affect rates of agriculture teacher retention. In addition, mental and physical factors such as stress, teacher burnout, motivations, salary, and school systems each influence agriculture teachers’ decisions about the future of themselves remaining in the school-based agricultural education profession. Work-life balance is a difficult situation for many agriculture educators to overcome. Job commitment within this profession varies from teacher to teacher as satisfaction, self-efficacy, and future opportunities affect commitment levels.