Influential Factors of Employment and Retention for Female Educators in Rural South Georgia
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Authors
Harrell, Melissa Shaye
Issue Date
2026-06-01
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Education , Dissertations, Academic , Women teachers , Rural teachers , Teacher recruitment , Teachers--Job satisfaction , Teachers--Supply and demand , Public schools--Georgia , Rural schools--Georgia , Education--Georgia
Alternative Title
Abstract
This mixed-methods study examined the influential factors in the decision-making process ofpublic-school female teachers in rural South Georgia as they decided to accept and to remain in teaching positions. The vast majority of prior research focused on factors influencing teachers to leave teaching positions or the profession, yet few studies explored the factors influencing them to accept and to remain in teaching positions. Using an explanatory sequential design, 220 female teachers in seven rural South Georgia county school systems completed an online survey focused on the reasons they accepted their teaching position and the reasons they decided to remain in the position. Two follow-up focus groups with three and four participants, respectively, added greater insight to the findings. Results showed that returning to their home area in the rural setting is attractive in deciding to accept a teaching position. A school’s positive image, a good reputation, and a safe environment are influential in the decision-making process. Economically beneficial factors positively influence the decision to remain in teaching positions for female teachers in rural South Georgia. Recruitment efforts should focus on teacher preparation programs attended by natives of the rural counties. Rural South Georgia teachers identify with the rural lifestyle and are content in their teaching positions with plans to remain in the position.
Description
Citation
Harrell, Melissa Shaye. "Influential Factors of Employment and Retention for Female Educators in Rural South Georgia," Ed.D., Valdosta State University, 2026. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10428/7747
Publisher
License
This dissertation is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, revised in 1976). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief quotations from this material are allowed with proper acknowledgement. Use of the materials for financial gain with the author's expressed written permissions is not allowed.