2026 Theses Doctoral

My Dad Won't Let Me Wear Flip Flops to School Anymore How America's Gun Violence is Affecting Teachers

Myers, Dawn

Gun violence in K-12 schools is an urgent public health concern in the U.S., yet educator voices and well-being are largely absent from peer-reviewed research on school violence and, by extension, often neglected in policies and other preventive efforts. This mixed-methods study examined how public high school educators experience and are affected by school-based gun violence and safety efforts, using the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) as a study framework.

A comprehensive survey assessed key constructs, including items on mental health, safety perceptions, gun violence emergency preparedness, job satisfaction, teaching effectiveness, and retention among a sample of 89 teachers. The study used descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses to address key research questions. One-on-one qualitative interviews with a subset of the study’s sample explored how educators navigate fear, emotional labor, and decision-making in safety-focused school environments.

Findings indicate that many educators have ongoing emotional strain, including fatigue, stress, and difficulty separating emotions from professional roles. Stress from lockdown and active shooter drills, media coverage on school shootings, and ongoing concerns about violence affected classroom management and teaching. Greater job satisfaction correlated with lower perceived teaching impact and less consideration of leaving the profession. Qualitative results further revealed how safety concerns shape routines, student interactions, and vigilance.

School violence concerns are woven into educators’ daily experiences. School safety efforts must incorporate physical and procedural changes, along with investments in educator well-being and school conditions.