MISSOURI — A new survey from the Missouri State Teachers Association revealed over 70% of 1,800 teachers across the state thought about leaving the profession in 2025.
According to the survey, those with 26-30 years of experience were most likely to say they have considered leaving, while those with 0-5 years of experience say they never or rarely think of leaving.
Only 15% of teachers reported never wanting to leave the job, while 16% consider leaving “very often.”
According to the survey, 71% of teachers wanted to quit in 2025 compared to 70% of teachers in 2024. More than one-third of the surveyed teachers said the 2024-2025 school year was more stressful than last year.
The survey was sent to all of the MSTA’s 1,800 members, including teachers, administrators, and non-certified members. The questionnaire evaluated job satisfaction, pain points, what is working well, and suggestions on how to improve public education.
“Student behavior continues to be one of the main concerns for teachers,” the survey stated.
Many of the teachers who responded to the survey listed student behavior and students’ lack of motivation as reasons for stress and even leaving the job. Over 30% of teachers also said their workload was a reason for wanting to quit, and 33% experience burnout.
The survey also stated that many educators feel unsupported and experience a “lack of support from their administration, communities, and students’ families.”
Over 40% of the teachers also said low pay for teachers continues to be a concern for those working and for recruitment.