Career Pathways of Teacher Leaders Involved in Federal Educational Policy

• In Event: Teacher Leadership: Shape, Form, and Impact

Abstract

As a fourth wave of teacher leadership begins to extend beyond the traditional confines of the classroom, an increasing number of teacher leaders are beginning to advance education policy. This research explores career pathway trajectories of teacher leaders who participated in a federal education policy Fellowship. Career pathways are examined through analysis of survey responses of Fellows and semi-structured interviews with a representative sample. Results include new theorizing about how teacher leaders forge new career pathways, through “adding” and “pathfinding,” as well as a reconceptualization of what it means to “leave” teaching. This study seeks to fill the existing gap in the literature regarding the career pathways of teacher leaders and the experiences of teacher leaders in federal policy development.

Authors

• Jonathan Eckert, Wheaton College

• Edit Khachatryan, Stanford University

• Patrick Ledesma, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

• Jasmine Ulmer, Wayne State University