The Role of Preservice Education and Social Networks in Early Childhood Teachers' First Employment Decisions

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Experiences of Novice Teachers Working in Diverse Contexts

Abstract

First job is key to understand future teacher trajectories. This article examines the role of pre-service education and social networks in first job search and selection process for early childhood teachers. Fifty-eight participants with less than five years of experience were interviewed. They worked in public and private settings, both in schools and early childhood centers in two regions of Chile. This article reports beginning teachers´ views about the role that initial training characteristics have on the job search process, their perceptions about job characteristics, and the importance that social networks have. Early childhood teachers confront a different context and needs from the rest of the teachers, so challenges of first job search process need to be addressed.

Authors

• Veronica Cabezas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

• Constanza Gomez, Elige Educar

• Maria Sanchez, Elige Educar

• Natalia Rojas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile