Teaching Under Pressure

Teacher attrition is affecting districts across the country. Teacher stress is leading to burnout

which is leading to teachers leaving the profession. Teacher attrition affects student achievement

and districts financially. Resources are being reallocated which has a negative effect on school

districts. Teacher stress is affecting both general education teachers and special education

teachers. Workload, administrative support, student behavior, and school environment are

mitigating factors that influence teacher stress. The current research looked to identify teachers'

perceived stress levels, which group of teachers (general educators or special educators) is more

stressed, and which mitigating factor is causing general education and special education teachers

to be stressed. A comparative quantitative survey design was conducted in a public school

district in the Midwest. 55 general education and special education teachers responded to the

Teacher Stress Inventory and Questionnaire. Results showed teachers perceive themselves as

stressed. There was no statistical difference between the stress levels of general education

teachers and special education teachers. Student behavior is affecting general education teachers'

stress levels the most. Whereas special education teachers identified workload as the factor

causing them the most stress.