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Foundations First: A Self-Determination Theory Analysis of Agricultural Education Teacher Well-Being and Retention

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Title: Foundations First: A Self-Determination Theory Analysis of Agricultural Education Teacher Well-Being and Retention
Language: English
Authors: Joshua Williams (ORCID 0009-0007-1920-5662), Jason D. McKibben (ORCID 0000-0003-2080-202X), Christopher A. Clemons (ORCID 0000-0001-9879-0888), D. Adam Cletzer (ORCID 0000-0002-6664-8454), James R. Lindner (ORCID 0000-0002-1448-3846)
Source: Journal of Agricultural Education. 2026 67(1).
Availability: American Association for Agricultural Education. P.O. Box 7607, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Raleigh, NC 27695. Web site: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Agriculture Teachers, Agricultural Education, Teacher Shortage, Teacher Persistence, Labor Turnover, Self Determination, Teaching Conditions, Needs, Administrator Role, Gender Differences, Family Work Relationship, Well Being, Secondary School Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Characteristics, Career Choice, Teacher Motivation
Geographic Terms: Alabama
DOI: 10.5032/jae.v67i1.2912
ISSN: 1042-0541
2162-5212
Abstract: In the persistent shortage of school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers, this study examined the hierarchy of factors influencing teacher retention in Alabama. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), the research examined the interplay between intrinsic psychological needs and external supports within a participant sample of 128 SBAE teachers. The findings suggested that a framework of professional needs is necessary, where tangible, external supports (e.g., administrative, financial security) were more critical for retention than the intrinsic factors of work engagement and occupational commitment. Interpreted through SDT, this suggests an environment that successfully fosters teachers' needs for competence and relatedness but fails to support their need for autonomy, as evidenced by a deficit in work-life choice that poses a direct threat to educator well-being. While male and female teachers shared core intrinsic motivations, they demonstrated divergent support needs. These findings suggest that retaining SBAE teachers requires prioritizing foundational and structural supports that enable their intrinsic motivation for sustainable long-term engagement in the SBAE profession.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495078
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Foundations First: A Self-Determination Theory Analysis of Agricultural Education Teacher Well-Being and Retention
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joshua+Williams%22">Joshua Williams</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1920-5662">0009-0007-1920-5662</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jason+D%2E+McKibben%22">Jason D. McKibben</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2080-202X">0000-0003-2080-202X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Christopher+A%2E+Clemons%22">Christopher A. Clemons</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9879-0888">0000-0001-9879-0888</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22D%2E+Adam+Cletzer%22">D. Adam Cletzer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6664-8454">0000-0002-6664-8454</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22James+R%2E+Lindner%22">James R. Lindner</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1448-3846">0000-0002-1448-3846</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Agricultural+Education%22"><i>Journal of Agricultural Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 67(1).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
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  Data: American Association for Agricultural Education. P.O. Box 7607, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Raleigh, NC 27695. Web site: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/index
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 20
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Agriculture+Teachers%22">Agriculture Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Agricultural+Education%22">Agricultural Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Shortage%22">Teacher Shortage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Persistence%22">Teacher Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+Turnover%22">Labor Turnover</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Determination%22">Self Determination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Conditions%22">Teaching Conditions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Needs%22">Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Role%22">Administrator Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+Work+Relationship%22">Family Work Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Teachers%22">Secondary School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Characteristics%22">Teacher Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Motivation%22">Teacher Motivation</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alabama%22">Alabama</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.5032/jae.v67i1.2912
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  Data: 1042-0541<br />2162-5212
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: In the persistent shortage of school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers, this study examined the hierarchy of factors influencing teacher retention in Alabama. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), the research examined the interplay between intrinsic psychological needs and external supports within a participant sample of 128 SBAE teachers. The findings suggested that a framework of professional needs is necessary, where tangible, external supports (e.g., administrative, financial security) were more critical for retention than the intrinsic factors of work engagement and occupational commitment. Interpreted through SDT, this suggests an environment that successfully fosters teachers' needs for competence and relatedness but fails to support their need for autonomy, as evidenced by a deficit in work-life choice that poses a direct threat to educator well-being. While male and female teachers shared core intrinsic motivations, they demonstrated divergent support needs. These findings suggest that retaining SBAE teachers requires prioritizing foundational and structural supports that enable their intrinsic motivation for sustainable long-term engagement in the SBAE profession.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495078
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        Value: 10.5032/jae.v67i1.2912
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      – Text: English
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Agriculture Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Agricultural Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Shortage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Persistence
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      – SubjectFull: Labor Turnover
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      – SubjectFull: Self Determination
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      – SubjectFull: Teaching Conditions
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      – SubjectFull: Needs
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      – SubjectFull: Administrator Role
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      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Well Being
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      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Motivation
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      – SubjectFull: Alabama
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      – TitleFull: Foundations First: A Self-Determination Theory Analysis of Agricultural Education Teacher Well-Being and Retention
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