Pathways to Burnout: Case Studies in Teacher Isolation and Alienation

Abstract

The attrition rate of 1st-year special education teachers is a mounting concern. Researchers have identified several factors that contribute to the stress that many novice teachers experience and their subsequent attrition. If necessary support from mentors, colleagues, and administrators is not in place, many 1st-year teachers opt to leave the profession. In this study, the authors interviewed 5 novice teachers about their 1st-year experience to determine whether there were any protective factors that might reverse attrition. A common thread in these teachers' stories was the powerful impact of relationships.