Experiences of Alaska new teachers: are they supported?

Ashley Posey
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:45:10 PDT

Teaching is a stressful job. New teachers especially experience stress as they are not only experiencing the typical stresses of being a teacher, but also experiencing the stress of learning a new profession. Teacher attrition is a significant problem in Alaska. Losing effective teachers is detrimental to schools and students. Therefore, it is important to ensure that teachers feel supported so that they will stay in the teaching profession. Mat-Su school district teachers, within their first three years of teaching, were surveyed to determine whether they felt supported as they began their teaching careers. Survey questions asked whether teachers felt supported by their school district, principals, and coworkers. Questions also asked if teachers have considered leaving their school district to teach in another district, or if they have considered leaving teaching altogether. Although survey participants typically felt supported by their principals and coworkers, they expressed dissatisfaction with the support received from their school district. Teachers in the Mat-Su school district reported experiencing stress. Many have considered quitting their jobs. The Mat-Su school district should consider the suggestions the survey participants provided about the ways their school district could support them better. If the Mat-Su district implements some of these ideas, perhaps their new teachers will feel more supported and will be more likely to continue teaching in the district.