All They Need is a Little Respect: Exploring Associations Among Identity, Respect, and Teacher Retention

ABSTRACT The present study utilized data from the 2017 Educator Quality of Work Life Survey (EQWLS). The EQWLS was distributed through the American Federation of Teachers and the Badass Teachers Association to document educators' experiences regarding their well‐being, working conditions, and stressors. We found that the extent to which teachers feel respected is a significant predictor of their likelihood of remaining in the profession. Specifically, feeling respected by supervisors, coworkers, students, and parents was a significant predictor of remaining in the profession when controlling for all demographic variables, including teacher race and gender, after controlling for stress and a sense of safety, suggesting that respect may be a particularly salient and important dimension of teacher retention efforts.