Care and Teachers in the Induction Years

Book excerpt: This edited volume focuses on understandings and enactments of care in teacher induction in a landscape reshaped by the recent pandemic, ongoing societal issues, and increased expectations of teachers. Building on the editors’ book Reconstructing Care in Teacher Education after COVID-19: Caring Enough to Change, this volume extends reconsiderations of care and teacher development into K-12 schools, aiming to explore how care is, should, and can be operationalized in teacher induction now. Each chapter draws on research, practice, and reflection to provide recommendations to move teacher induction forward in responsive and caring ways. Authors include teacher educators, practicing teachers, and administrators representing different subject areas and educational levels. The operationalization of care also takes many forms, from mentorship and professional learning communities to support in navigating burnout and staff shortages. Chapters offer specific examples from contributors’ own teaching experiences and conclude with suggestions for adapting the model or practice for readers’ own programs and students. Ideal for faculty working with preservice educators and administrators supporting newly hired teachers, this book can also serve as recommended or supplementary reading in undergraduate or graduate teacher education, curriculum and instruction, leadership, and educational administration courses as well as within professional development opportunities.