The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to gain an understanding of elementary school teachers' experiences and perceptions related to maladaptive behaviors of students in their classrooms. The research question was: What are teachers' experience with maladaptive behaviors in the classroom? In this study, eight elementary school teachers responded to nine interview questions in a guided interview protocol on their views and experiences with maladaptive behaviors in the classroom. The researcher used Yin's model of multiple case study thematic analysis to define three themes including the teachers' personal issues related to stress in their workplaces, their varied responses to the maladaptive behaviors in the classroom and their responses to the outside of their classroom issues regarding maladaptive behaviors in the classroom including increased class sizes, a lack of support from administrators and the lack of professional development. Additionally, the study's conclusions identified that the teachers' stress responses were similar to secondary traumatic stress with compassion fatigue resulting from their work with students with maladaptive behaviors in their classrooms and related work place stressors. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]