The author discusses how theory and practical action work together to maintain teachers' professional vitality. She examines the current concern with models and their influence on perception of reality. The author states that good paradigms bring more precision to professional practice, allow more accurate predictions, or provide for the…

The National Education Association's Teacher Education Initiative restructures teacher preparation around principles of partnership, coherent knowledge base, systemic internal change, systematic external change, equity and diversity, and teacher leadership. (SK)