Researchers Awarded NSF Grant to Investigate Mathematics Teacher Retention in Utah High Schools

Strategic Insights -

A team of researchers from Utah State University has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate the retention of high school mathematics teachers in Utah. Led by professors Willa van Dijk, Kaitlin Bundock, and Carrie Bala, the research aims to understand how support in work and home life impacts teacher retention, particularly among special education and general education math teachers in grades 6-12. The study seeks to inform policies and practices to improve teacher retention and student success.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate mathematics teacher retention in Utah high schools.
  • The study focuses on understanding the impact of support in work and home life on teacher retention, particularly among special education and general education math teachers in grades 6-12.
  • The researchers aim to inform policies and practices to improve teacher retention and student success.
  • The study will involve two small pilot studies: one to understand effective mathematics education in Utah's 41 school districts, and another to examine social support and its impact on retention from the teachers' perspectives.
  • The team will recruit 20 teaching pairs (40 teachers) from rural and urban schools throughout Utah to participate in surveys and in-depth interviews.
  • The researchers aim to identify successful modes of collaboration, strategies for finding balance, and networks that continue to provide teachers with the energy to persist in their field.
  • The researchers believe that understanding the impact of social support systems on teacher retention is crucial for improving student achievement and reducing teacher turnover.
  • The team is looking at the support teachers get from their colleagues and the principal, as well as the support they get in their private lives, such as childcare and parent-teacher conferences.
  • The researchers assume that a broader network of support leads to higher teacher retention, but they acknowledge that they need to do the research to confirm this.

Statistics:

  • Utah secondary math and secondary special education math have high teacher turnover rates.
  • The researchers have collectively taught math and special education for nearly 30 years in the public school system.
  • The team plans to recruit 20 teaching pairs (40 teachers) from rural and urban schools throughout Utah.
  • The researchers aim to take their findings to state and district administrators to impact policy and practice in schools and school districts.

Sources:

  • Utah State University, "Researchers Awarded NSF Grant to Investigate Mathematics Teacher Retention in Utah High Schools"
  • National Science Foundation, "Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program"