View in EDS

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

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Foundations First: A Self-Determination Theory Analysis of Agricultural Education Teacher Well-Being and Retention.
Authors: Williams, Joshua1 jowilliams@acsk12.net, McKibben, Jason D.2 jdm0184@auburn.edu, Clemons, Christopher A.3 cac0132@auburn.edu, Cletzer, D. Adam4 adam.cletzer@auburn.edu, Lindner, James R.5 jrl0039@auburn.edu
Source: Journal of Agricultural Education. 2026, Vol. 67 Issue 1, p1-20. 20p.
Subject Terms: *Teacher retention, *Agricultural education, *Professional education, *Intrinsic motivation, *Work-life balance, Self-determination theory, Well-being
Geographic Terms: Alabama
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Education is the property of Journal of Agricultural Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 190982398
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Foundations First: A Self-Determination Theory Analysis of Agricultural Education Teacher Well-Being and Retention.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Williams%2C+Joshua%22">Williams, Joshua</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> jowilliams@acsk12.net</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McKibben%2C+Jason+D%2E%22">McKibben, Jason D.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> jdm0184@auburn.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Clemons%2C+Christopher+A%2E%22">Clemons, Christopher A.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><i> cac0132@auburn.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cletzer%2C+D%2E+Adam%22">Cletzer, D. Adam</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo><i> adam.cletzer@auburn.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lindner%2C+James+R%2E%22">Lindner, James R.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo><i> jrl0039@auburn.edu</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Agricultural+Education%22">Journal of Agricultural Education</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 67 Issue 1, p1-20. 20p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+retention%22">Teacher retention</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Agricultural+education%22">Agricultural education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+education%22">Professional education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intrinsic+motivation%22">Intrinsic motivation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work-life+balance%22">Work-life balance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-determination+theory%22">Self-determination theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well-being%22">Well-being</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alabama%22">Alabama</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Education is the property of Journal of Agricultural Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190982398
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.5032/jae.v67i1.2912
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Teacher retention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Agricultural education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intrinsic motivation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work-life balance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-determination theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alabama
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Foundations First: A Self-Determination Theory Analysis of Agricultural Education Teacher Well-Being and Retention.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Williams, Joshua
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: McKibben, Jason D.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Clemons, Christopher A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cletzer, D. Adam
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lindner, James R.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: 2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10420541
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 67
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Agricultural Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1