TEACHER MORALE AND PROFESSIONALISM

Kimberly Bowman (PhD Student, Curriculum, Culture, and Change) Brionna Nomi (PhD Student, Curriculum, Culture, and Change) and Jesse Senechal, PhD (Director of MERC) - VCU School of Education

There is general agreement that the success of students and of schools is dependent on the expertise of the teachers within those schools. However, recent research suggests that teachers are choosing to leave to the profession at high rates, especially from the most academically challenged schools. The goal of this session is to present ideas about teacher professionalism that help make sense of the current trends in teacher retention, and provide a framework for re-imagining the professional role of teachers within schools.  The session will include a presentation of the findings of the MERC Understanding Teacher Morale report, and engage attendees in a discussion that leads to practical recommendations for supporting and retaining teachers.