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Ties in Tumultuous Times: Educators' Workplace Relationships as the Intersection of People, Policy, and Politics

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Title: Ties in Tumultuous Times: Educators' Workplace Relationships as the Intersection of People, Policy, and Politics
Language: English
Authors: Melanie Muskin (ORCID 0000-0002-2238-5971), Ta-yang Hsieh (ORCID 0000-0002-9001-0477)
Source: AERA Open. 2025 11(1).
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Secondary School Teachers, Interprofessional Relationship, Political Attitudes, Individual Characteristics, Teaching Conditions, Teacher Attitudes, Sense of Belonging, Job Satisfaction, Departments, School Policy, Friendship, Pandemics, COVID-19, Group Dynamics
ISSN: 2332-8584
Abstract: This qualitative study explores how secondary school educators in the United States conceptualized their workplace relationships during the 2021-2022 school year, which was a period marked by a return to in-person instruction amidst ongoing public health crises and heightened politicization of school policy and practice. Drawing on micropolitical theory, we analyze data from 54 educators who participated in 26 online focus groups and interviews. Findings reveal that workplace relationships were shaped by a combination of individual characteristics and school policies. Political homophily emerged as a key factor that influenced educators' relationships. Educators bonded over shared political beliefs and experienced isolation when misaligned with dominant ideologies at their schools. These interpersonal dynamics shaped educators' senses of belonging, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment, underscoring the need for inclusive school environments that allow for ideological diversity.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494811
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Ties in Tumultuous Times: Educators' Workplace Relationships as the Intersection of People, Policy, and Politics
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melanie+Muskin%22">Melanie Muskin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2238-5971">0000-0002-2238-5971</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ta-yang+Hsieh%22">Ta-yang Hsieh</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9001-0477">0000-0002-9001-0477</externalLink>)
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Teachers%22">Secondary School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interprofessional+Relationship%22">Interprofessional Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+Attitudes%22">Political Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Conditions%22">Teaching Conditions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sense+of+Belonging%22">Sense of Belonging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Satisfaction%22">Job Satisfaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Departments%22">Departments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Policy%22">School Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Friendship%22">Friendship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Group+Dynamics%22">Group Dynamics</searchLink>
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  Data: 2332-8584
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  Data: This qualitative study explores how secondary school educators in the United States conceptualized their workplace relationships during the 2021-2022 school year, which was a period marked by a return to in-person instruction amidst ongoing public health crises and heightened politicization of school policy and practice. Drawing on micropolitical theory, we analyze data from 54 educators who participated in 26 online focus groups and interviews. Findings reveal that workplace relationships were shaped by a combination of individual characteristics and school policies. Political homophily emerged as a key factor that influenced educators' relationships. Educators bonded over shared political beliefs and experienced isolation when misaligned with dominant ideologies at their schools. These interpersonal dynamics shaped educators' senses of belonging, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment, underscoring the need for inclusive school environments that allow for ideological diversity.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 18
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interprofessional Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Political Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Individual Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Conditions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sense of Belonging
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      – SubjectFull: Job Satisfaction
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      – SubjectFull: Departments
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      – SubjectFull: School Policy
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      – SubjectFull: Friendship
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      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
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      – SubjectFull: Group Dynamics
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