The Role that Balanced Academic Calendars May Play on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Teacher Retention

It is becoming increasingly difficult to attract and retain teachers in the workforce. While there have been reports related to why the decline in the number of educational professionals is occurring, it has become a priority for those of us interested in the field of education to seek creative ideas that enhance teacher satisfaction and in turn, impact teacher retention. One approach to investigating teacher satisfaction that warrants consideration is to examine how the school calendar design contributes to teachers’ well- being and overall job satisfaction. In this chapter, we briefly examine the literature that highlights the reasons teachers leave or stay in their classrooms. We follow with a discussion on the myriad of “modified” calendars US school districts have adopted as ways to make the education profession more appealing and to attract and retain more teachers. Based on the findings of two studies we conducted we provide evidence school calendar designs can potentially impact teachers’ work and personal lives; a balance that leads to a healthier professional outlook.