Date of Award

12-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Teaching and Learning

Committee Chair/Advisor

Jacquelynn Malloy

Committee Member

Cynthia Deaton

Committee Member

Shanita Anderson

Committee Member

Jacquelyn Williams

Abstract

This participatory action research study employed photovoice, a qualitative methodology that centers the lived experiences of co-researchers through images and narratives to explore key issues in educational settings. The research investigated the school-level factors that influence teacher retention and attrition, with a focus on how collective storytelling, or amplifying teachers’ voices, could inform and inspire change. Framed through the lens of job embeddedness (JE) theory (Holtom et al., 2006), findings revealed that strong alignment between teachers and the school organization, expressed through a sense of organizational fit and relational links, correlated with increased teacher commitment both to the school and the profession. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on teacher retention, while also highlighting the transformative potential of participatory methods in educational research.

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-7727-219X

Available for download on Thursday, December 31, 2026

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