Teacher Career Stages

Résumé du livre

Literature on adult life stages and career development is synthesized and placed within the perspective of a career cycle model for teachers as adult learners. The teacher career cycle is viewed as a progression affected by personal and environmental factors. The stages a teacher's career proceeds through (e.g., preservice, entry, growing, stable, exit) are described as not necessarily linear, but frequently cyclical. Scenarios are given of the cyclical development of four teachers, each of whom is required by circumstances to change or reverse directions to develop professionally. Implications for inservice education include: (1) Traditional inservice activities that emphasize improved teaching skills are appropriate at certain points in a teachers' career, particularly during skill-building periods; (2) The concept of staff development and professional growth should be broadened to include concern for personal needs and problems of teachers; (3) Organizational policies should provide support for teachers at various stages of the teacher career cycle; and (4) Approaches to staff development and professional growth should emphasize personalized, individualized support systems. (JD)