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“The Teacher Salvage Business” - Saving a Special Education Teacher: Can a Professional Learning Community Act as a Catalyst to Reverse Thoughts of Quitting?

Stine, Jill S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=witt1320332571

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts, Wittenberg University, Education.
Special educators are challenged by an abundance of stressful issues in their work environment. This study questions whether the activities of a professional learning community could rectify the stress of these educators, thus causing them to perform their jobs without thoughts of quitting. Participants in the study were 20 special educators from a suburban high school in southwest Ohio. Research examined the special educator's work environment, teacher support programs, as well as the professional learning community. Study methods included data collection in the form of stress surveys, a pre-participation questionnaire asking how often they thought of quitting their jobs, and a survey ranking the four highest areas of stress in the department. Eight professional learning community meetings were conducted. Four PLC meetings spotlighted stress-reduction topics: the secrets of resiliency, regaining focus, changing one's perspective, and deep-breathing exercises. Four additional PLC meetings meetings birthed action plans through which members hoped to gain support from administration to resolve the four highest areas of stress in the department. Data analysis examined teacher responses through specific demographics based on their years of teaching experience. A post-participation questionnaire asked again, following all the activities of the professional learning community, how often these educators thought of quitting. This researcher was surprised by the final outcome of the study. Ultimately, the experience of working in a professional learning community definitely supplied valuable and positive contributions to this special education department.
Stefan Broidy, Dr. (Advisor)
Jeannine Fox, Dr. (Committee Member)
Sara Brannan, Dr. (Committee Member)
144 p.
Educational Leadership
Special education; burnout; professional learning communities; stress reduction

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stine, J. S. (2010). “The Teacher Salvage Business” - Saving a Special Education Teacher: Can a Professional Learning Community Act as a Catalyst to Reverse Thoughts of Quitting? [Master's thesis, Wittenberg University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=witt1320332571

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stine, Jill. “The Teacher Salvage Business” - Saving a Special Education Teacher: Can a Professional Learning Community Act as a Catalyst to Reverse Thoughts of Quitting? 2010. Wittenberg University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=witt1320332571.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stine, Jill. "“The Teacher Salvage Business” - Saving a Special Education Teacher: Can a Professional Learning Community Act as a Catalyst to Reverse Thoughts of Quitting?" Master's thesis, Wittenberg University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=witt1320332571

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

witt1320332571
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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wittenberg University and OhioLINK.