A follow-up study of the reasons involved in teacher turnover using a sample group of marketing education graduates from 1995-1999

Abstract

This study attempted to determine the reasons for teacher turnover utilizing a sample group of marketing education graduates from 1995 to 1999. Research objectives to be answered by this study involved: (1) What were the reasons for marketing education teacher turnover? (2) What percentage of marketing education graduates between the years of 1995 and 1999 were currently teaching? (3) Of those currently teaching marketing education, how long had they been teaching? (4) Were any of the graduates working in a field unrelated to marketing education? (5) What were some of the recommendations for making a marketing education teaching career more engaging or appealing? A survey questionnaire, cover letter, and return envelope were mailed to a total of 98 participants. The survey included 11 questions designed to extract feedback that corresponded with the objectives of this study. The outcome was a total of 44 respondents, representing a 44.8 percent response rate. It was concluded from the respondents that the top six reasons for marketing education teacher turnover were salary, burnout, lack of administrative support, better opportunities in the business world, student discipline problems, and politics. The percentage of marketing education graduates that were currently teaching was 43.2 percent. Of those currently teaching, 13.6 percent had been teaching for five years; 9.1 percent each for three and four years; 6.8 for one year; and 2.3 percent for two years. Occupations unrelated to teaching with the highest response rate were sales, marketing manager, advertising consultant, development director, and homemaker. Recommendations for making a marketing education teaching career more appealing with the highest response rate were increase salary, combine marketing education with a business degree, more funding, create internships for business and industry, more administrative support, and financial rewards. Overall, studies indicated the need for continued research on the topic of teacher turnover. It was implied that effective solutions need to be created to lessen the burden of teacher turnover. Past studies also indicated that the number one reason for teacher turnover, and the number one recommendation to make a marketing education teaching career more appealing, was to increase teacher salary.