The 20 essays in this book provide diverse perspectives on the professional development of teachers and include: (1) "Attracting the Best and Brightest to the Teaching Profession" (James R. Hutto); (2) "Attracting Talented African-American High School Students to Careers in Education" (Rita G. Greer); (3) "A Grassroots…

The National Executive Service Corps, an organization which uses the skills and experiences of senior professionals, responded to the perceived shortage of qualified mathematics and science teachers in New York City. This paper describes a project designed to tap the skills and talents of retired scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who…

The National Partnership for Excellence in Education and Accountability in Teaching (NPEAT) helps place improvement of teaching at the center of reform efforts, addressing two problems that impede the development of systemic reforms to improve teaching quality: (1) absence of agreement about effective strategies for improving teaching among those…

Novice teachers often face personal and professional stresses during their first year of teaching because of lack of experience, support, and guidance. In response to these problems, Wayne State College, 2 Nebraska Educational Service Units, and 37 local school districts in Northeast Nebraska entered into a partnership designed expressly to be an…

This paper discusses the planning and first year implementation of the DePaul-Glenview Teacher Education Program, developed in response to the perceived need by the wider educational community to strengthen the professional development of teachers. In this program, six to eight graduate students would be supported through one year of internship,…

The transition of teacher candidates into the teaching profession is often perceived to be particularly traumatic. This study was designed: (1) to ascertain whether or not 61 beginning elementary and secondary classroom teachers who responded on 2 occasions to the same work expectations scale changed job entry expectations between completion of…

This book is designed as a portable mentor for new teachers. Through a close and intense dialogue between a new teacher and a seasoned veteran, the novice comes to see troublesome situations more clearly, to anticipate trouble before it arises, and to develop more comprehensive and powerful strategies for leadership. Through the outcomes achieved…

Two Connecticut programs designed to support beginning teachers, the Beginning Educator Support and Training Program (BEST) and the Cooperating Teacher Program (CT), are grounded in the collaborative leadership concept. A working partnership between principals and mentor teachers shares responsibility with a state assessment team to support and…

This report describes workplace conditions that support effective instruction and professional growth according to recent research. Key workplace conditions include: fair teaching assignments; opportunities for teachers to collaborate with colleagues; extra induction support, ongoing professional development, and expanded career opportunities;…

This guide helps parents understand the issues of teacher quality, suggesting ways they can strengthen teacher quality in their children's schools. In order to ensure that students meet new, higher standards, teachers must be better prepared to promote high levels of learning for all students. Research has shown that many teachers do not feel…

This report examines the need for ongoing support of teachers as professionals, offering concrete steps that presidents or chancellors can take to improve their programs. It highlights: "A Call for Action"; "What Can University Presidents Do To Best Assure a Competent, Caring and Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom?"; "Why Focus on Professional…

This book, a commentary on becoming a teacher, presents a set of essays based on observations of a group of young, white, middle class female teachers learning what it means to be alone at the head of the classroom. It presents a textured picture of the development of competence. The picture is organized around the complications of ordinary life…

This paper is a byproduct of research started in 1982, suggested to the author through reading "Students into Teachers" (Collins, 1969). No similar study had been carried out in Papua New Guinea (PNG) so this study was designed to find out more about the social background, motivations and conditions of new teachers there. In countries…

This digest provides a summary at-a-glance of critical legislative activity and related reports that have addressed many facets of California's teacher recruitment and development challenges over the decade. The nine chapters focus on: "Teacher Recruitment,""University-Based Teacher Preparation,""Teacher…

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the knowledge base of prospective science teachers. An important part of their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) consists of concerns about teaching. Most of the research on these concerns is focused on rather general teaching issues, and little is known about their concerns dealing with…