Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/developing-early-to-mid-career-teachers/5016206/
Most teachers enter our profession eager and enthusiastic, high on energy and ideals. They come believing that good teaching will positively influence children’s development and society’s future. Once out of academia, however, the realities of teaching often differ significantly from expectations. Day-to-day challenges in the classroom contradict educational theory and cherished beliefs, dampening the morale and enthusiasm of many early to mid career teachers.Because these teachers already “know the ropes,” opportunities for individualized professional development are frequently ignored. Directors, short on time and administrative resources, can unintentionally overlook the career development needs of this group, focusing their limited upervisory time on beginning or underperforming teachers.
The consequences of poorly planned or random professional development for teachers in the early to mid career cycle, are serious. Without input from knowledgeable mentors or supervisors, these teachers can flail about professionally. Without the benefit of individualized staff development plans, they may perpetuate ineffective teaching practices or fail to develop core competencies required to advance to the next rung on the career ladder. Worse yet, when left alone, early to mid career teachers suffer low morale and can stagnate professionally.
Teachers having passed successfully through the career survival stage are still vulnerable to inherent ...