Exploring How Physical Artifacts Motivate Teacher Leaders: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology about the Lived Experiences of Teacher Leaders

ABSTRACT

This hermeneutic phenomenology addressed the problem of falling teacher retention rates of K-12 teachers due to teacher burnout by exploring the lived experiences of teacher leaders and how they are motivated by physical artifacts. The theory framing this study is thing theory. Thing theory framed the study by exploring life experience and the relationship between teacher leaders and their things. The study offered additional information on the use of physical artifacts in qualitative research and the object discussion. This hermeneutic phenomenology used a triangulation of data collection including the semi-structured interview, object discussion, and in-person interviews. The research study setting was a K-12 charter school incorporated in rural Southeastern United States. The study included 16 teacher leaders from grades 2-12. Eligible candidates earned a qualifying score between 124 and 155 on the pre-screening survey, a valid and reliable tool adapted from two specific teacher leadership instruments. Findings suggest that teacher leadership creates positive experiences for teacher leadership and that physical artifacts motivate teacher leaders by creating a relational bridge and affirming professional choice.