Retaining Quality Teachers: International Perspectives on Teacher Resilience

Session Type: WERA Symposium

Abstract

There are concerns in many countries regarding the retention both of early career teachers and of high quality teachers at different career stages. Teacher resilience is a relatively recently examined construct that focuses on why teachers stay and continue to thrive professionally despite multiple challenges. This symposium presents qualitative and quantitative studies from Canada, Germany, Malta, Ireland, Portugal, Australia and South Africa. No existing studies have been found that directly compare resilience in different countries and this symposium addresses that gap. There are some differences in the nature of the challenges and resources in the nations studied. Overall, however, the papers indicate that teachers in these different contexts face some similar challenges and draw on similar personal and contextual resources.

Sub Unit

• World Education Research Association

Chair

• Susan Beltman, Curtin University

Papers

• Exploration of Novice Teachers' Resilience in Canada: An Evolutionary Perspective - Mylene Leroux, Université du Québec en Outaouais

• Teacher Resilience in Europe: A Multidimensional View on a Significant Construct - Marold S. Wosnitza, RWTH Aachen University; Francisco Peixoto, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada; José Castro Silva, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada; Jennifer Schwarze

• Great Southern Lands: Making Space for Teacher Resilience in South Africa and Australia - Caroline F. Mansfield, Murdoch University; Liesel Ebersohn, University of Pretoria; Susan Beltman, Curtin University; Tilda Loots, University of Pretoria

Discussant

• Helen M.G. Watt, Monash University