Teacher morale in a rural Georgia school district in relation to likelihood to remain in the profession

Thousands of American teachers leave the profession each year. This study assessed the level of morale of teachers in a rural Georgia school district and identified and made comparisons of teachers who were likely to leave the profession with those likely to remain in the profession using an ex post facto research design. The Purdue Teacher Opinionaire and a survey instrument designed by the researcher that related to characteristics identified by studies on teacher morale as those influencing teachers to leave the profession were used in the study. A moderately high level of teacher morale was found among sampled teachers. Likely Stayers scored significantly higher on teacher morale than Likely Leavers. Satisfaction with teaching was the morale factor that influenced the likelihood of teachers to remain in the profession.