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Teacher turnover is an issue of national significance and has worsened since the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Teacher‐directed violence and teacher turnover can significantly impact school life for students, staff, and communities. Using Wang and Degol's school climate framework, we examined school characteristics that contribute to teacher‐directed violence and related turnover. The current study examines the qualitative experiences of 403 teachers who reported that their most upsetting incidents of violence contributed to desires to leave the profession, transfer, or retire. Many teachers indicated concerns about safety and community factors, including parent–teacher relationships and community violence. Educators emphasized issues related to administrators, describing a lack of support and poor leadership. Finally, teachers discussed concerns with policy on both school and government levels. Improving school climate may be one avenue for decreasing teacher‐directed violence and preventing turnover. Practitioner Points: Teacher‐directed violence is a significant factor in teachers' decisions regarding transferring, leaving the profession, and retiring.School climate influenced how incidents of violence against teachers unfolded.School characteristics, such as safety, parent–teacher relationships, and administrative support contributed to teachers' considerations of leaving their positions or profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher turnover is a significant issue in education that negatively affects students' academic performance and instructional continuity. While multiple factors impact turnover, the effects of violence directed against teachers on turnover have rarely been explored. The current study examines the extent to which (dis)empowerment applies to teachers who experienced incidents of violence and related intentions to leave their positions. The study includes 403 teachers from a national survey examining teacher-directed violence and teachers' most upsetting experiences with violence. Using content analysis, results indicated teachers endorsed low levels of empowerment dimensions including status, autonomy and decision-making, and impact. Further, disempowerment was associated with turnover intentions and decisions. Future directions for research, practice, and policy are considered to increase empowerment and prevent turnover following incidents of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]