Date of Award
5-2024
Culminating Project Type
Dissertation
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Educational Administration and Leadership, K-12: Ed.D.
Department
Educational Administration and Higher Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Frances Kayona
Second Advisor
Amy Christensen
Third Advisor
Steven Emerson
Fourth Advisor
Michele Barron-Albers
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Burnout, Special Education, Special Education Administrator, Job-Person Fit
Abstract
Abstract
Occupational burnout occurs when an individual experiences emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment (Leiter & Maslach, 2022). Educator burnout research focuses primarily on teachers (DeMatthews et al., 2021) with scarce research on special education administrators (Lashley & Boscardin, 2003). This quantitative study explored 213 Minnesota Special Education Administrators’ perceived levels of burnout and degree of job-person fit using the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Educators (MBI-ES) and the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) (Leiter & Maslach, 2011; Maslach et al, 2018).
The results found that those surveyed experience emotional exhaustion a few times a month, depersonalization a few times a year to once a month or less and personal accomplishment once a week to a few times a week. The greatest degree of job-person match was found in values with the poorest match in fairness. When disaggregated by demographic group varied levels of burnout and job-person fit were seen across groups. A moderate negative correlation was found between emotional exhaustion and workload and a weak negative correlation between emotional exhaustion and the other worklife areas. Weak negative correlations were seen between depersonalization and all areas of job-person fit and weak positive correlations with personal accomplishment and five of the six areas.
Organizations should attempt to reduce administrator workload so it does not lead to emotional exhaustion which could cascade into burnout. Special education administrator’s values match could be a protective factor against burnout that should be leveraged. To best support students and teachers, districts must address administrator burnout: “We may be leaders, but we’re also human. If we are truly interested in helping others, we have to help ourselves first” (Moss, 2021, p. 140).
Recommended Citation
Lauderbaugh, Angela, "Association Between Minnesota Special Education Administrators' Level of Burnout and Job-Person Fit" (2024). Culminating Projects in Education Administration and Leadership. 109.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/edad_etds/109
Comments/Acknowledgements
I am grateful for the support I have had through this journey and feel fortunate for the privilege to continue my education. First, thank you to my committee members Dr. Frances Kayona, Dr. Steven Emerson, Dr. Amy Christensen, and Dr. Michele Barron-Albers. Your time, dedication and thoughtful feedback are appreciated. To Dr. Kayona, our meetings have been instrumental in keeping me on track and reminding me that my dissertation may not be “perfect”, but it will be “done”. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning from you, respect your authenticity and dedication to your work.
Thank you to the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE) organization, especially Erin Toninato, Lori Zimmerman, and Taylor Ethen for their input, support and help distributing this survey. Thank you to my colleagues at Delano Public Schools, Meeker and Wright Special Education Cooperative and St. Cloud State University for encouragement. Thank you to my doctoral cohort. Busy lives kept us from connecting as often as we wanted but I always feel your support and value your friendship.
To my mom, Nita, who developed my love of reading and belief in myself. To my dad, Jack, who gave me and nurtured my inquisitive nature. To my stepmom Jodie, who taught me how to get things done and done well. Thank you to my friends, Doug, Sue, and Eric, for use of their wonderful cabin as a writing retreat. To my son Calvin, who keeps me on my toes and always striving to do my best. Love you, Cal! Most importantly, thank you to my husband, Tony. The resolute confidence you have in me and what I can accomplish has gotten me to this point. Your daily support and love are a reminder of what a wonderful partner you are and how incredibly lucky I am.