Retaining Special Education Teachers for Students with Autism: A Qualitative Study

The problem is that the recruitment and retention of special education teachers in autistic units represents a challenge nationwide, especially with the steady increase of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The current efforts and strategies to address the public school system's shortage of qualified special education teachers have shown limited success. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to explore the challenges facing special education teachers in autistic units and the role of administrators in assisting special education teachers in facing such challenges. The research questions were crafted to answer the obstacles facing special education teachers in autistic units and the role of the school administration in solving these obstacles. To address this lack of knowledge, eight special education teachers working with students with autism in a public school district were selected. The participants had different teaching experiences that ranged from a few years to thirty-five years in the public school system. The study was conducted through basic qualitative and thematic research analysis by asking the participants ten structured interview questions. These questions were designed based on the researcher's experience in an ASD working environment. Six themes were extracted from the interview questions. The data analysis revealed that workload, student behaviors, stress, teacher burnout, and lack of qualified paraprofessionals are the main challenges. In addition, the participants highlighted the positive role of the school administration in facilitating their teaching mission in ASD units. The study concluded that if we address the main themes of the study, it will be more likely to recruit and retain special education teachers in ASD units. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]