Holmes Scholars Mayra Marquez-Mendez (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) and Adjoa Mensah (Teaching and Learning) presented their research "An Expectancy Value Theory Approach to Understanding Science Teacher’s Persistence" at the AACTE Annual 2024 conference, supported by Tina Vo and her NSF-funded grant. This study employs a mixed methods approach, using Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT) to explore teachers' beliefs. Quantitative analysis identifies a significant link between social utility value, teaching efficacy beliefs, and job satisfaction. Qualitatively, teachers express satisfaction with their positions but highlight challenges like high-class numbers and student apathy, with less emphasis on science content's impact on retention. The research underscores the necessity for further exploration and aims to positively contribute to the teaching profession by raising awareness of science teachers' perspectives and experiences in education.
