Why I Stay: Educator Retention Survey 2026
Survey Narrative
Excerpt: This survey provides a focused view of educator retention in Arizona, capturing the perspectives of appropriately certified teachers who have chosen to remain in the classroom. As such, it highlights the factors that sustain retention, while also reflecting ongoing challenges within a resilient workforce. It is important to note that this dataset does not include educators who have already left the profession, meaning identified challenges likely represent baseline conditions rather than the full extent of attrition drivers.
Overall, the findings show that retained educators are highly committed to their profession, primarily driven by a strong sense of purpose, meaningful relationships with students, and the impact of their work. Student-centered motivation appears in a clear majority of responses, reinforcing that intrinsic factors are the strongest drivers of retention. At the same time, systemic pressures, particularly workload and compensation, remain significant concerns even within this group.
Survey Dashboard
