Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Changing The Story: Implications Of Narrative On Teacher Identity, Geah Pressgrove, Melissa Janoske, Stephanie Madden

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This study takes a qualitative approach to understanding the connections among narrative, professional identity, and reputation management in public education. Through 15 interviews and five focus groups with high-achieving teachers and administrators, researchers explored the narratives these educators share to understand and improve the story of the teaching profession. Central to the findings are societal, organizational, and community-level factors that have led to a reputation crisis for the profession of teaching and thus contribute to the national teacher shortage. Ultimately, this study points to the notion that a shift in the perception of the value of teaching and teachers can …