Developing Mid-Career Teachers

10/13/2008

Developing Mid-Career Teachers

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”
Mary Anne Radmacher

In her article, "Developing Early- to Mid-Career Teachers" in the new Exchange CD Book: Developing Creative, Capable Teachers, Patricia Scallan Berl offers these reflections:

"One cannot overlook the importance of addressing the development needs of teachers in the workforce. Just as novice teachers need to be supported, inspired, and encouraged, early- to mid-career teachers, too, need to flourish in their work environments. The growing number of resignations among gifted early- to mid-career teachers is a huge vulnerability in our profession and an impediment to sustaining high quality programs for children. Care and attention must be given to the early to mid career professionals, who are poised to either invest significantly to the organization or leave the profession altogether.

"Early- to mid-career teachers thrive on career development that is built on motivation, supervision, evaluation, recognition, and a healthy respect for work life balance. By creating staff development plans that build not just upon their individual competencies but extend into personal and life goals, we engender a sense of commitment and belonging to the organization. While organization climate matters to almost everyone, it is critical to nurturing and sustaining talented teachers. The gifted teachers are not apt to stay around if the environments are not right. Their professional futures await them. Our task is to ensure their future is nurtured and sustained through us."

Developing Capable, Creative Teachers

What keeps adults learning is the combination of ongoing reading, dialogue, trial and error, skill development, and continual self-reflection. There are always old and new ideas to visit, mentors and models to re-examine, and adjustments to make in one's approach. The Exchange CD Book Developing Capable, Creative Teachers offers an exhaustive collection of 53 articles offering a host of practical ideas and strategies for developing capable, creative teachers in the following areas:

Staff Development Basics
Staff Development Strategies and Solutions
Team Building Strategies and Solutions

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