Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
12-2025
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Ed. D.
Department
Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development
Degree Program
Educational Leadership and Organizational Development, EDD
Committee Chair
Powers, Deborah
Committee Member
Fields, Nicole
Committee Member
Stevens, Doug
Committee Member
Usher, Adrienne
Author's Keywords
Teacher attrition; title I schools; leadership; qualitative phenomenology; Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory
Abstract
This qualitative phenomenological study explored the factors influencing teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave Title I elementary schools in Kentucky. Grounded in Herzberg’s Motivation–Hygiene Theory, the study examined the interplay of intrinsic motivators and extrinsic conditions that shape teacher satisfaction, commitment, and attrition. Twelve current Title I teachers participated in semi-structured interviews designed to capture their lived experiences and perceptions of work in high poverty contexts. Analysis revealed a balance of pull factors—such as purpose, relationships, and supportive leadership—and push factors—including workload, resource limitations, and inadequate administrative support. Leadership quality emerged as the central variable mediating these forces. Teachers who experienced recognition, collaboration, and protection of instructional time from principals were more likely to remain, while those exposed to unsupportive leadership or persistent structural challenges chose to leave. vii Findings affirmed Herzberg’s distinction between motivators that promote satisfaction and hygiene factors that prevent dissatisfaction. Teacher retention, the study concludes, is not merely a matter of individual resilience but a systemic issue tied to leadership practice and organizational conditions. The research offers implications for policy and practice, emphasizing the importance of developing principals equipped to sustain teacher motivation and address the contextual realities of Title I schools.
Recommended Citation
Holt, Tonya Nicole, "What will it take to keep you? A phenomenological investigation of teacher career decisions in Title I elementary schools." (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4688.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/etd/4688
