Why Great Teachers Quit is a book I am writing to share the many unecessary reasons more and more teachers are leaving teaching every year, causing educational disruption, the loss of countless dollars, and many missed opportunities.  Teachers need to be heard, describing what it is really like to work in today’s schools.   

As an educator in the field for over ten years, I have seen firsthand the challenges and struggles of working within the large bureaucracy of public education.  To gain a better understanding of this complex problem, I’ve interviewed dozens of teachers who have left teaching.   I feel it is crucial for the public, education officials, education faculty and politicians to understand these problems from the perspective of working educators who are leaving or considering leaving the profession for good.  Once this understanding is gained, it is my hope that changes can be made at the school, district, state and national levels to create schools that retain the most qualified and talented teachers. 

But I need your help!  I need teachers all over the country to share their stories.  Why have you left teaching, or what has led you to consider leaving teaching for good?  What do you think are the greatest challenges facing teachers today?   Please post your thoughts here, and include the grade level and subject you teach, the geographic region you live in, and if it is okay to contact you for a more formal interview for the book.  You can also email me at whygreatteachersquit@comcast.net if you are more comfortable with email. 

I have been discussing this project with a publisher and have some genuine interest.  Now I need to hear from teachers about this critically important issue.  Many times it is the politicians, the academics, and those far removed from teaching who are making decisions about what is best for teachers and ultimately the students.  This book will give voice to the thousands of teachers who leave schools every year- never to return. 

I have written about these areas, based on my initial interviews and experiences, but please don’t limit yourself to commenting only on these issues. I want to hear your own reasons for leaving, or considering leaving, public school teaching.

1. Hostile Political Climates

2. No Child Left Behind

3. Administrators

4.  Unrealistic Expectations

5. Time Management Problems

6.  School Boards

7.  School Climate

8.  Parents

9.  Pay

10. Lack of Respect

Please also describe a personal experience that illustrates your concerns about teaching.  Real life, in the trenches experiences from teachers will help readers understand our perspective more clearly. 

Thank you for your help.  Please spread the word about this project to every teacher you know.  I truly appreciate your help, and know that you are making a difference in this problem that effects all of us. 

Teachers, if the request below is too broad, and you are strapped for time, you can answer one, some or all of these survey questions instead.  I know you have grading to do, dinner to make and families to take care of.  But I do hope you can spend a few minutes sharing your greatest concerns about the teaching profession.  Please also include your general geographic location, grade level and content area you teach.  Thank you in advance!

1.  What were your main reasons for getting out of teaching (or considering it)?  What

specifically drove you to look for other opportunities?

2.  What did you find to be the most challenging about working in a

public school?  What would you change if you could?

3.  What are areas you think need improvement in schools in order for

motivated, creative teachers to stay in classrooms?

4. What organizational or national issues in education really frustrated or concerned you as a

teacher?

5. Why do you think there is a nearly 50% teacher attrition rate in some places of the U.S.?

Remember, you can post your responses as comments or email them to me at whygreatteachersquit@comcast.net.  Thank you!