Making a Difference: Developing Meaningful Careers in Education

For educators, researchers, and policy makers, Quartz (research, Center X, UCLA) et al. discuss the variety of career pathways educators can take to make a difference in children's lives. As part of UCLA's Urban Teacher Education Collaborative, which examined the reach of Center X's Teacher Education Program and studied the retention and careers of the its graduates, they analyzed the career pathways of about 1,000 educators from 2000 to 2007 and share the specific stories of seven teachers who have taught in challenging urban settings. They consider the complex decisions teachers have to make that are impacted by issues such as the hierarchy of the educational system, the history of teaching as a gendered, low-status profession, inadequate resources and funding, and the daily conditions of schools as workplaces, and explain how to stay connected to student learning, exercise professional autonomy, and build social networks. Sidebars feature different educational roles, from educational advocate to policy advisor. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)