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Virginia Tech

Examining the Layers of Beginning Teacher Retention: A Cross-Case Analysis at the Elementary Level

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The cross-case analysis described in this study examined the patterns of practice that support the beginning teacher in the elementary school environment of a large suburban school district. Bronfenbrenner’s (1976) systemic model of the educational environment as a series of nested, interacting sub-systems was used as a compass for this study. Data were collected beginning in the exo-system and continued through the meso-system and micro-system of the educational environment. Interviews with central office staff at the exo-system level, with the school administrator at the meso-system level, and with beginning elementary teachers at the micro-system were the primary means of data collection. Interview data were collected from three beginning teachers in the elementary school with the largest number of beginning teachers in the district, the principal of the school, and central office personnel. Evolving display matrices were the primary strategy for data analysis. Themes were identified at each level of the educational environment. Findings reveal consistent themes within the levels of the elementary school environment.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Education
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Department dc:contributor.department
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2008

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Alexander, Rebecca Jean
Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Twiford, Travis W.
  • Mallory, Walter D.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Maschal, Mary
  • Byers, Larry
  • Salmon, Richard G.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-03292008-115912
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/26543

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Alexander, Rebecca Jean. Examining the Layers of Beginning Teacher Retention: A Cross-Case Analysis at the Elementary Level. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26543