RURAL SCHOOL CHALLENGES WITH TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

The purpose of this study is to examine the unique challenges rural school districts face when it comes to recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers. A qualitative, exploratory case study research design was implemented through open-ended focus group interviews with seven teachers from rural districts. The findings in this study indicated that rural teachers identified three factors common to rural teacher recruitment and retention challenges: (a) pay, (b) rural location, (c) resources. Findings suggest that lower pay, rural location, and limited resources are the core challenges in the recruitment and retention of teachers in rural areas. Furthermore, this study provides possible solutions for rural teacher recruitment and retention challenges.