"I Want to Be THAT Teacher": Exploring Career and Self-Perceptions in Prospective Teacher Candidates

• In Event: 29.091 - Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: 29.091-1 - Division K Section 3 Poster Session 2

Abstract

Given the attrition rates of teachers over the last decade, recruitment and retention of teachers is a key concern (Ingersoll & Smith, 2003). Understanding how early undergraduates perceive the career of teaching as well as their own self-schema may help us to consider how we recruit and select individuals for admission to teacher education programs. In a sample (n=74) of early undergraduate students completing an Introduction to Education course as a pre-requisite to program admission, we analyzed their responses to a culminating assignment for career perceptions and self-schema. Preliminary findings suggest that career perceptions and self-schema are affective and relational in nature. Implications for recruitment to and support within teacher education programming will be discussed.

Authors

• Christine Strayer, Western Michigan University

• Allison J. Hart-Young, Western Michigan University