The Relationship of Perceived Support to Satisfaction and Commitment for Special Education Teachers in Rural Areas

This study examined the relationship of work-related support to teacher satisfaction and job commitment for rural special educators. The researcher conducted a phone survey with 203 special education teachers from randomly selected rural districts in 33 states. The results suggest that several key sources of support, such as support from other special educators, are of limited availability. Teachers who reported a wider network of support, and that sources of support were helpful expressed greater levels of satisfaction and commitment to their jobs. Teacher satisfaction and commitment were related to several specific variables: (a) support from administrators, (b) support from general educators, and (c) others in the school understanding their role and sharing in the responsibility of providing services to students with disabilities.