Teacher satisfaction has experienced the largest recorded drop since 1984. See how teacher leaders have the ability to affect collegial relationships and create the conditions most important for teacher satisfaction through safe, collaborative learning communities. Learn more about professional learning at all levels of education with Learning Forward, an international membership association of learning educators: www.learningforward.org Membership in Learning Forward gives you access to a wide range of publications, tools, and opportunities to advance professional learning for student success.

1. Title
Body
Build higher levels
of job satisfaction
with professional
learning
Source

2. Teacher satisfaction has
dropped 15 points
Source: MetLife. (2011). The MetLife survey of the American teacher: Teachers, parents
and the economy. New York: Author. (14). Available at www.metlife.com/
teachersurvey.

3. Professional learning has
a role in satisfaction rates
72% of teachers with low job satisfaction (vs. 86%
with high) reported that their school or district
provides adequate opportunities for professional
development.
44% of teachers with low job satisfaction (vs. 27% with
high) reported that time to collaborate with other
teachers has decreased during the past 12 months.
33% of teachers with low job satisfaction (vs. 20%
with high) reported that there has been a decrease in
professional development opportunities during the
past 12 months.
Source: MetLife. (2011). The MetLife survey of the American teacher: Teachers,
parents and the economy. New York: Author. Available at www.metlife.com/
teachersurvey.

4. What can teacher leaders
do?
Create a safe learning environment
• Trusting
• Confidential
• Reflective
• Collegial
Source: Armstrong, A. (2012, May) Build higher levels of job satisfaction. The Leading
Teacher. Oxford, OH: Learning Forward. Available at www.learningforward.org/news/
teacher.

5. What can teacher leaders
do?
Provide opportunities for teachers to contribute
to
• Professional learning plans
• School governance
• Decision making
• Education policies
Source: Armstrong, A. (2012, May) Build higher levels of job satisfaction. The Leading
Teacher. Oxford, OH: Learning Forward. Available at www.learningforward.org/news/
teacher.

6. Download the article and
accompanying tools
Read the full article, the leading Inside
• Design learning that drives satisfaction, p. 2
published in The Teacher
• Approach professional learning as a researcher, p. 3
• Culture of trust, p. 6
• Collegial visit, p. 7
May 2012
Vol. 7, No. 6
Leading Teacher (May,
every educator engages in effective professional learning every day so every student achieves
Build higher levels
2012). Available at of job satisfaction
www.learningforward.
collegiality, leadership are key
peers in schools with less favorable
factors for teachers
conditions, even after controlling for
student demographics and other school
By Anthony Armstrong
T
and teacher characteristics” (Johnson,
eacher job satisfaction Kraft, & Papay, 2012, p. 5).
org/news/teacher.
has dropped dramati- The same study went on to make
cally in just two years. In the link between teacher satisfaction
2009, 59% of teach- and student achievement growth
ers were very satisfied (Johnson, Kraft, & Papay, 2012, p. 5),
with their jobs. In 2011, that number so the importance of teacher satisfac-
dropped to 44%, according to The tion cannot be overstated.
MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: One of the study’s goals was to
Teachers, Parents and the Economy, determine which factors within favor-
(MetLife, 2011, p. 13). This represents able working environments are most
the largest drop in teacher satisfaction important for predicting teachers’ job
since the annual MetLife Survey of the satisfaction. Interestingly, the condi-
American Teacher first started tracking tions most important for teacher sat-
teacher satisfaction in 1984, and the isfaction were “the ones that shape the
lowest level of teacher satisfaction in social context of teaching and learning”
the past 24 years. (Johnson, Kraft, & Papay, 2012, p.
A recent research paper 27). While typical working condition
from The Project on the Next requirements were important, such
Generation of Teachers at the as safe facilities, adequate resources,
this newsletter was
Harvard Graduate School and lesson preparation time, the study
made possible with
support from Metlife
of Education examines how found that the three most important
foundation. working conditions predict elements for teacher satisfaction are
teachers‘ job satisfaction and 1. Collegial relationships, or the
career plans. The study found that extent to which teachers report
working conditions were the most having productive working rela-
important factor in teacher satisfaction: tionships with their colleagues;
“Teachers who teach in favorable work 2. The principal’s leadership, or the Taryl Hansen, director of teacher
environments report that they are more extent to which teachers report that leadership for the Arizona K12 Center,
creates an atmosphere of collegiality
satisfied and less likely to plan to trans- their school leaders are supportive through games such as Jenga that offer
fer or leave the profession than their Continued on p. 4 what she calls equity of voice.
Your membership in Learning Forward gives you access to a wide range
of publications, tools, and opportunities to advance professional learning for
student success. Visit www.learningforward.org to explore more of your
membership benefits.

7. Learn more with
Learn more about professional learning
for educators with Learning Forward, an
international membership association for
learning educators:
www.learningforward.org
See how membership gives you access to
a wide range of publications, tools, and
opportunities to advance professional learning
for student success.