Teach & Thrive: Wisdom from an Urban Teacher's Career Narrative(HC) (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781681235820)

A volume in Issues in the Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice of Urban Education

Teacher burn out contributes to the epidemic of early career exit. At least half of all new K‐12 teachers leave the
profession by the time they reach their fifth year of teaching. Conversely, there are urban teachers who survive
burn out and thrive as career‐ long educators. This book results from an in‐depth qualitative study that explored
one 40‐year veteran teacher's career narrative, analyzing how she not only survived the burn out epidemic, but
also thrived as a highly effective career‐long urban teacher.
Part 1 of this book uses a critical socio‐political lens is used to guide readers through the complexities of career thrival. Framed within the story of
one new urban teacher's typical morning, the book begins with an overview of the socio‐political forces that lead to urban teacher burn out. In spite
of the obstacles, the more hopeful idea of urban teacher thrival is uncovered through narrative methodology. Part 2 is dedicated to the dynamic
narrative of a veteran urban teacher career journey. This inspiring story is related to frameworks established in Part 1, as well as painting a picture
of how public education has evolved over the last 40 years, and it's impact on the lives of teachers.
Part 3 takes a deeper dive into three salient themes that permeated throughout the participant's story. First hope springs eternal is the idea that
sustaining hope supported the teacher's career thrival. Next, the extended education family is the notion that familial‐like relationships at school
nourished her longevity. The third theme, creative autonomy, reveals that by being empowered with opportunities for curriculum development and
instructional decision‐making the teacher maintained her passion. This book concludes with recommendations for teachers, educational leaders and
teacher educators to develop and maintain thriving teachers.