Characteristics and working conditions of moonlighting teachers: Evidence from the 2011-2012 Schools and Staffing Survey

Authors

  • Paul G Fitchett University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Tina L Heafner University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Susan Harden University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Keywords:

Teacher Moonlighting, Teacher Working Conditions, Teacher Characteristics

Abstract

Educational research has long established moonlighting as a popular employment practice among public school teachers. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics Schools and Staffing Survey, this study examined both the characteristics and motivations of public school teachers across moonlighting categories. Findings indicate that teacher characteristics, workplace perceptions, and professional outlook varied across moonlighting type. The likelihood of moonlighting outside of the education sector increased among single, male teachers with high reported burnout and lower salaries. Results have implications for how school leaders and policymakers should view moonlighting inside and outside the education sector. 

Author Biographies

Paul G Fitchett, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Paul G. Fitchett is associate professor of education in the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K12 education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His research focuses on a the intersections between educational policy, teacher working conditions, and school-related outcomes.

Tina L Heafner, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tina L. Heafner is Professor in the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research interests include social studies marginalization and policy, teacher autonomy and praxis, online and technology mediated learning, and social studies literacy.

Susan Harden, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Susan Harden is an assistant professor in the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K12 Educatoin at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research interests focus on civic engagment in schools and the professional lives of teachers.

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Published

2016-05-02

How to Cite

Fitchett, P. G., Heafner, T. L., & Harden, S. (2016). Characteristics and working conditions of moonlighting teachers: Evidence from the 2011-2012 Schools and Staffing Survey. Current Issues in Education, 19(1). Retrieved from https://cie.asu.edu/ojs/index.php/cieatasu/article/view/1672

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

License

Authors retain copyright without restrictions. Unless otherwise indicated, from 2021 all articles are published under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA license. For more information visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Articles published prior to 2021 used a CC-BY-NC-SA license.