Annual Metlife Survey Reports Teacher Career Satisfaction at 20-Year High, But Preparation and Support Remain Challenges Source: MetLife, October 12, 2006 WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2006/via PRNewswire/ -- Despite the fact that teacher career satisfaction is at a 20-year high, lack of preparation and support threaten retention in the profession, according to the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2006: Expectations and Experiences. MetLife has sponsored the American Teacher series since 1984. This year's survey of K-12 teachers, principals, and deans and chairpersons in schools of education, conducted by Harris Interactive(R), examines the state of the profession at key points throughout the lifecycle of a teacher's career, from preparation in college and graduate school, to experiences in the nation's K-12 schools. The 2006 survey looks at the expectations of teachers upon entering the profession, factors that drive career satisfaction, and the perspectives of principals and education leaders on successful teacher preparation and long-term support. In addition, it examines data collected from past MetLife American Teacher surveys to understand the challenges teachers face and their likelihood of remaining in the profession in order to recommend recruitment and retention strategies. Through focus groups of prospective and former teachers, also conducted by Harris Interactive, the report offers added insight about why individuals choose to enter the profession, and why some "opt out" early. "America's teachers represent a critical bridge between this country's present and future success. Ensuring that we have the best public education system possible is everyone's responsibility, which is why MetLife has commissioned the Survey of the American Teacher for more than two decades," said MetLife Chairman and CEO Rob Henrikson. "With almost half of all teachers exiting the profession in their first five years, we need to develop actionable strategies to strengthen our public schools by keeping good teachers in them. As these results demonstrate, a dangerous gap exists between expectation and experience, making it more difficult to attract and retain teachers." "The degree to which teachers are prepared for the realities of the classroom affects their likelihood of remaining in the profession," said Sibyl Jacobson, MetLife Foundation President and CEO. "This survey should be a wake-up call about what it takes to prepare, support and retain teachers." Key findings include: 1. Today's teachers face challenges: * Most teachers do not have enough time for planning and grading (65%), helping individual students (60%) or classroom instruction (34%). * Although teachers' professional prestige is on the rise, nearly four in 10 (37%) say their professional prestige is worse than they expected. * Two-thirds of teachers (64%) report their salaries are not fair for the work they do. 2. The struggle to retain teachers gives cause for concern: * One quarter (27%) of teachers say they are likely to leave the profession within the next five years to enter a different occupation. * The veteran teacher with 21 years or more experience is more likely than his or her less-experienced colleague to "opt out" -- that is, more than twice as likely to leave the profession (56% vs. 26%). 3. Principals and education leaders have dramatically different perspectives on what new teachers should expect on-the-job. * More than half of principals (54%) think teachers are unrealistic about the number of hours they will work each week, in contrast to 32% of deans and chairpersons. * More than half of principals (52%) believe teachers are unrealistic about the number of students with special needs with whom they will work, in contrast to 25% of deans and chairpersons. 4. Teachers' experiences align more closely with what principals say they should expect than with the views of deans and chairpersons who prepare them for classroom life. * Four in 10 teachers (42%) work more with special needs students than they expected. * Fifty-eight percent of teachers find the hours they work each week are worse than expected. * Three of the four top strategies teachers recommend for recruitment and retention -- a decent salary, more financial support of school systems and more respect in society -- are similar to those of principals. 5. Still, there is good news about the state of K-12 education: * Despite the challenges they face, teachers' career satisfaction is at 20-year high: 56% are very satisfied with teaching as a career, a 70% increase over findings reported in the 1986 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Restructuring the Teaching Profession. * Today's new teachers feel better prepared to engage families, work with students of varying abilities and maintain order in the classroom than did their than experienced peers when they first entered the career. * Eighty-two percent of new teachers were matched with a more experienced mentor during their first year of teaching, compared to only 16% of veteran teachers. The results of the survey were released today at a forum hosted by the Committee for Economic Development. Henry Johnson, Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education, gave the keynote address at the release event, and Humphrey Taylor, Chairman of The Harris Poll(R), presented survey findings to an audience of educational professionals, policymakers and high school students. A panel, including Arthur Wise, president of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and Dr. Virginia Roach, Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at George Washington University, discussed the implications of the findings for teacher preparation programs and public schools. About the 2006 MetLife Survey On behalf of MetLife, Harris Interactive(R) conducted the 2006 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher by phone between March 8 and April 6, 2006 with nationally representative samples of 1,001 public school teachers of grades K-12, 500 public school principals of grades K-12 and 200 education deans and department chairpersons within America's colleges and universities. Data were weighted to reflect the total U.S. populations of teachers, principals, and education deans and chairpersons, respectively, and margin of error varies based on sample size and method used. In addition, Harris Interactive conducted a series of focus groups among prospective teachers and former teachers in April 2006. The 2006 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher can either be downloaded from MetLife's Web site at http://www.metlife.com/teachersurvey or obtained by writing to MetLife, ATT: Survey of the American Teacher, 27-01 Queens Plaza North, Long Island City, New York 11101. About MetLife MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional customers. MetLife and MetLife Foundation support education initiatives that improve public education and increase opportunity for students nationwide. Established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement, MetLife Foundation focuses on supporting programs that explore current issues in education, many of which address issues raised in the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. For more information about MetLife, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.metlife.com. Additional information about the Foundation is available at http://www.metlife.org. About Harris Interactive Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions, which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls, and for pioneering online market research methods. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com. Program Contact: Michelle Armstrong; (212) 578-2419, mnarmstrong@metlife.com