Ongoing shortages of quality teachers has prompted policy interest into career changers as potential solutions. Although Initial Teacher Education (ITE) comprises one-third career changers, little is known about this group. This paper presents a scoping review of career changers' motivations/decisions to choose teaching as a career. Themes from…

Career change teachers (CCTs) are heralded in international education policies as key to addressing teacher shortages and increasing quality and diversity in the profession. Using a qualitative approach inspired by Ball's discursive facet of policy enactment, interview responses from 23 Australian teacher educators were examined. The aim was to…

The transition from expert occupational therapy practice to academic educator is stressful and complex, involving the development of a new professional identity. In 2020-21 COVID-19 created a new challenge for recently employed academics, who were in this transition process. This study utilized participatory research to explore the impact of…

Tennessee school instructional leaders experienced a teacher shortage and relied upon alternatively licensed second career teachers to fill vacant teaching positions, especially in math and science. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to understand alternatively licensed math and science second career teachers' perceptions of…

This article is based on a research study completed as part of an Ed. D dissertation which explored the experiences of career change teachers (CCTs) in Irish primary and post-primary schools. Their motivations for changing career, both intrinsic and extrinsic, along with the influence of family in career changers' decisions to change career were…

This study explored the intersection of Autistic burnout and educator burnout and it's the impact on mental health and wellbeing for Autistic educators in the United States. Through collaboration with five Autistic Community Partners (ACPs), the research team interviewed five Autistic Educators (AEs) who had left the field of education about their…

As teachers pass through career stages, they gain valuable experience and expertise. They may remain highly engaged or begin to become detached and at risk of leaving the profession. Losing teachers later in their career means they take years of experience with them. A multitude of experiences can push teachers from an engaged to a detached state,…

The attrition of classroom teachers has garnered significant attention due to its impact on education. While past discourse focused on pay as the driving force behind departures, our study delves into the qualitative aspects of attrition. Reviewing a dataset spanning 40+ years, we explore multifaceted reasons behind teachers considering leaving…

In Ireland state funded support services provide Continuing Professional Development for teachers and school leaders. These services are staffed with teachers seconded from their schools on an annual basis for a maximum of five years. This study investigated the learning and experience of teachers seconded to a national support service, the…

Irish Further Education and Training (FET) is presently undergoing a period of transformation after years of experiencing issues related to identity and precarious employment, among others. This paper explores the experiences and motivations of 16 student teachers who, despite the sectoral challenges, have chosen to teach in FET as a second…

Special and disabled services are important issues for improving teaching practices and the provision of facilities for disabled people. Disabilities among military-veteran teaching staff are not widely discussed, despite the importance of the experiences that veteran STEM teachers can bring to the classroom. The purpose of this study is to…

This quantitative study assessed teacher self-efficacy, principal supports, and feelings about working in education for n = 146 teachers in the state of Ohio. The respondents rated their feelings about self-efficacy and principal supports on a scale of 1 (none at all) to 9 (a great deal). The survey sought to determine if teachers' feelings…

Despite achieving similar college degrees, students venture into different paths post-graduation. Having a career plan with career aspirations and future career perspectives is essential for an individual to have a more straightforward career path. This qualitative narrative inquiry research determined science education students' career…

Increased attention toward filling skills gaps have prompted community colleges to prepare a new wave of employees. Community colleges have long turned to former industry professionals, now serving as career and technical education (CTE) faculty, to train students for fruitful careers. This narrative inquiry study featured interviews with 20…

We do not all arrive at a career in academia on the same road. Many of us, particularly those of us teaching at community colleges, come to teaching as a second career, after working many years in a field that may be related but distinct from our primary teaching field. These first careers can be used as a resource as we embark on new careers. In…