Poster #41 - Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Will I Become a Teacher After All?

• In Event: 51.082 - MTCC Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: 51.082-10 - The Process of Deciding to Become a Teacher

Abstract

This qualitative study presents non-traditional, teacher education candidates facing 'frame factors' as they journey as a Cohort. George Posner's (2004) adapted work on curriculum theory, serves as the conceptual framework for analyzing and coding participant responses (N=60) organized under seven “frame factors:” (1) temporal, (2) physical, (3) cultural, (4) economic, (5) organizational, (6) political-legal and (7) personal.

Findings suggest that (1) frame factors contribute to pronounced stress levels; (2) cohort membership plays a significant role in participants‘ resilience, retention, and realization of programmatic requirements. A cautionary tale: In spite of good intentions to incentivize ‘grow-your-own programs and provide local instructional access, unintended consequences persist that neither districts nor teacher education programs currently address.

Authors

• Barbara Torre Veltri, Northern Arizona University

• Stacia Emerson, Southern Wesleyan University