Investigating Teacher Perceptions of the Impact of Administrative Support on Educator Job Satisfaction and Retention

School districts are struggling to attract and retain teachers. The current shortage of teachers and difficulty in maintaining high quality school faculties to support student achievement are the result of several economic, societal, educational, and workplace related factors. While many of the factors driving teacher shortage and attrition from the career are outside of the influence or control of school administrators, the primary purpose of this research study was to investigate the perceptions of teachers on administrative support and how it impacts job satisfaction and retention. Using a mixed methods study with qualities of a convergent parallel design, the researcher collected both quantitative and qualitative data from an online survey and interviews around research questions focused on the importance and impact of administrative support on educator job satisfaction and retention. Eighty-one educators participated by ranking research-based leadership characteristics and school administrator evaluation components for their impact on job satisfaction and retention, with 17 of the participants volunteering for an optional interview with more in-depth questions about administrative support. Data analysis of the results showed that teachers placed the highest value on administrative support that emphasizes strong communication, relationships, empowering and collaborative work environments, school discipline and safety, and manageable work-life balance.