Research Article

Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators

Volume: 16 Number: 2 June 24, 2026
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Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators

Abstract

Teacher attrition has emerged as a critical issue globally, with numerous teachers leaving the profession voluntarily before retirement, negatively affecting educational quality and school climate. School administrators play a central role in shaping school environments that may influence teachers’ decision to stay or leave. This basic qualitative study investigates public school administrators’ perspectives on the influences contributing to teacher attrition in Türkiye. Data were collected from 10 administrators through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Findings revealed two main themes: (1) work life experiences, including challenges related to classroom management, organizational climate, workload, and obligatory service requirements, and (2) career dissatisfaction, including the perceived status of the teaching profession, low salaries, and alternative job opportunities. The findings indicate that administrators’ interpretations of their roles shape how attrition is understood and addressed within schools. Based on the results strengthening mentoring programs particularly for early career teachers, enhancing leadership development for administrators, improving workload management practices, reconsidering sociocultural factors of obligatory service, and improving financial conditions of teachers are recommended.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This research study was conducted with Research Ethics Committee approval of Middle East Technical University, dated 06.08.2021 and issue number 338-ODTU-2021.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Education Management, Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 24, 2026

Submission Date

February 19, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 2

APA
Gökten Bayrak, Ö., & Ok, A. (2026). Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 16(2), 740-756. https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.1642906
AMA
1.Gökten Bayrak Ö, Ok A. Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators. AJESI. 2026;16(2):740-756. doi:10.18039/ajesi.1642906
Chicago
Gökten Bayrak, Özge, and Ahmet Ok. 2026. “Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators”. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International 16 (2): 740-56. https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.1642906.
EndNote
Gökten Bayrak Ö, Ok A (June 1, 2026) Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International 16 2 740–756.
IEEE
[1]Ö. Gökten Bayrak and A. Ok, “Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators”, AJESI, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 740–756, June 2026, doi: 10.18039/ajesi.1642906.
ISNAD
Gökten Bayrak, Özge - Ok, Ahmet. “Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators”. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International 16/2 (June 1, 2026): 740-756. https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.1642906.
JAMA
1.Gökten Bayrak Ö, Ok A. Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators. AJESI. 2026;16:740–756.
MLA
Gökten Bayrak, Özge, and Ahmet Ok. “Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators”. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, vol. 16, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 740-56, doi:10.18039/ajesi.1642906.
Vancouver
1.Özge Gökten Bayrak, Ahmet Ok. Teacher Attrition: Insights from School Administrators. AJESI. 2026 Jun. 1;16(2):740-56. doi:10.18039/ajesi.1642906