Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios
Date of Award
2-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Granting Institution
Lynn University
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Degree Program
Educational Leadership
Department
College of Education
First Advisor
Dr. Suzanne King
Second Advisor
Dr. Jennifer J. Lesh
Third Advisor
Dr. Linda S. Jordan
Abstract
The teaching profession remains at a high level of workplace stress, a factor contributing to teacher burnout and turnover. The study examines how teachers in K-12 public education perceived that facility dogs might reduce stress, increase job satisfaction, and aid in teacher retention in public schools of a southeastern state. The study employed a qualitative, cross-sectional survey that was emailed to 112,546 educators from a LISTSERV request. A total of 1,242 individuals provided informed consent and completed the survey, which consisted of Likert-scale measurement items, open-ended questions, and an informational video inserted to achieve a common understanding of the facility dog concept.
Nearly three-quarters of the respondents reported feeling stressed often or always, and approximately 69% indicated that they had considered leaving the profession due to stress, according to the survey results. The response was overwhelmingly positive in terms of teachers’ perceptions of facility dogs as a support. Over 86% agreed that facility dogs could help alleviate anxiety, and 87% thought they would enhance job satisfaction. Open-ended responses characterized dogs as calming and supportive, while also boosting morale; far fewer teachers expressed practical concerns, such as the program’s cost, daily care, or training requirements.
Altogether, this evidence indicates that facility dogs can help improve teacher well-being and retention when purposefully introduced as a resource. The research highlights the opportunity presented by human–animal interactions as a low-cost, high-impact tool to enrich the emotional climate of schools and the professional quality of life for teachers.
Recommended Citation
Powers, D. (2026). Sit, stay, and teach: Exploring teachers' perceptions of facility dogs' impact on stress and retention [Doctoral dissertation, Lynn University]. SPIRAL. https://spiral.lynn.edu/etds/449
Included in
Animal-Assisted Therapy Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Elementary Education Commons, Elementary Education and Teaching Commons, Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons
