Why Did They Leave? A Case Study of Secondary School Music Teacher Attrition

The purpose of this case study was to explore the subject of teacher attrition through former music teachers who had left school music education to pursue other careers. The research questions guiding this study were (a) what do participants cite as critical experiences and interactions that led to their decision to leave their secondary school music position and pursue positions outside education? and (b) what are the benefits and challenges of their chosen current career path? Five former music teachers each completed a written response and participated in two semi-structured interviews. Findings indicated that these music teachers left due to (a) unexpected teaching situations, (b) lack of support, (c) lack of resources, (d) feelings of burnout, and (e) lack of respect. I discuss the relationship of these themes to previous research, including a notable connection to teacher demoralization, and conclude with recommendations to promote music teacher career sustainability.