Academic institutions that prepare personnel to work in the field of special education face considerable challenges in finding and retaining qualified faculty. At the same time, a growing number of special education teachers and administrators choose academia as a second career. Few studies have sought to capture their lived experiences as shift…

There is a growing, but frequently unrecognized, group of nontraditional students in teacher education programs today, defined as people entering such programs after a prolonged absence from formal education and/or people changing careers. This paper presents two teacher educators' reflections on their failure to recognize such student diversity…

Individuals who are bored or dissatisfied with their career or are feeling stalled or plateaued in their career, may be suffering from the career doldrums. Although career doldrums may be associated with certain life and career stages (for example, middle age or the stabilization stage of career development), they may also depend on how personally…

Despite their prominence, the voices of superintendents are rarely heard regarding their personal triumphs and challenges in educational administration and serving the needs of students. Chapter 1, "A Look at the Featured Superintendents," introduces 14 superintendents and reviews their careers. Chapter 2, "The Good: Dealing With…

The Military Career Transition Program (MCTP) at Old Dominion University (Virginia) is the primary alternative certification program for teacher licensure targeting military personnel who are transitioning into education careers. Beginning in the fall of 1998, the MCTP added distance learning to its existing course offerings at 5 of its 15 sites.…

With the many layoffs and downsizing of companies during the 1990s, many displaced workers have turned to temporary employment to earn a living while looking for permanent employment. Others have adopted "temping" as a more long-term work style. Although it may not be possible to predict whether an individual will find satisfaction or…

This book gives step-by-step guidance about how to enter the field of secondary school teaching. It is intended for college students making choices about courses and programs of study, recent college graduates pursuing professional positions, experienced workers thinking about changing careers, and high school students planning for college. Two…

Drawing on the Young Men's Cohort of the National Longitudinal Surveys, this study examines the long-run effects of teenage labor market experience on subsequent adult wages. The study expands on earlier work by considering the effects of both unemployment and job mobility during the period of transition from school to work. (Author/SSH)

Identifies some of the problems and issues endemic to research studying career patterns in student affairs. Suggests more promising avenues of research. Discusses the conditioning effects of the higher education environment, recent developments in conceptualizing career research, experimental design issues and opportunities for studying work…

Teacher burnout, which is similar to the old combat fatigue GIs experienced in battle, is a threat to our best teachers, and a problem every classroom teacher eventually will face. Presented are some of the causes of teacher resignation due to burnout, and suggested are means of combatting them. (KC)

This special section includes five articles that discuss public relations strategies for school librarians. Highlights include effective communication, including measuring and evaluating the success of public relations efforts; Web-based public relations; giving bookmarks to students; customers and cultural contexts; and successful job…

In response to the growing shortage of teachers, some schools and colleges are recruiting professionals from the private sector and government as classroom teachers. Considerations for professionals contemplating a career shift to teaching include choosing the proper grade level and subject area, obtaining teaching credentials, certification…

Surveys of 350 teacher trainees from Singapore's teacher training institution were used to examine relationships among quality of work life, career commitment, job satisfaction, and withdrawal cognition. Career commitment and job satisfaction were important predictors of withdrawal cognition. Perceptions of the social status of teaching strongly…

The purpose of this study was to discover the dissatisfactions for Australian beginning physical education (PE) teachers. Qualitative data yielded five main categories underpinning teacher dissatisfaction: lack of status, repetitive nature of PE work, limited decision making, personal and professional surveillance, and unprofessional staff-room…

Three alternative career options for teacher librarians are discussed in separate articles written by individuals who have changed careers: a school principal, a computer resources teacher, and a consultant. It is noted that each of these careers requires skills that many school librarians already possess. (LAE)