The purpose of this study was to better understand the impact experience and context have on the development of an early childhood education teacher professional identity. Using the Listening Guide (Gilligan et al. 2006), data were gathered and examined from interviews with three early childhood educators (ECE) currently teaching in a public school setting. Findings suggest that personal life experiences, teacher preparation, and career experience/contexts had a significant impact on the development of the teachers' professional identities. Examining when these early childhood educators committed themselves to the profession, and during which contexts and experiences they embraced early childhood tenets, provided important insight into how teacher preparation programs can bring forth candidates' past experiences for critical discussion to help preservice teachers make better sense of their developing early childhood teacher identity. Implications for provisionary teachers include support for navigating policy and societal influence in addition to day-to-day classroom teaching.

The present study sought to examine empathy and teacher self-efficacy among preservice early childhood teachers. Participants were selected from two courses in East Tennessee State University’s early childhood education program. A total of 18 students from their second year of study and 33 students from their fourth year of study participated. This totaled to 51 participants (92.2 % white, 2% African American and 2% Native American; 96.1% female, 3.9% male). An online survey that contained three sections, background information, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale was sent to the participants. After online surveys were completed, the data was analyzed to observe the relationship between the four empathy subscales (Perspective-Taking, Fantasy, Personal Distress, and Empathic Concern) and total self-efficacy among both groups of students. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between Perspective-taking and total self-efficacy among students in their fourth year of study. The results also revealed a significant difference in the two groups self-efficacy scores. Students in their second year of study had higher self-efficacy then students in their fourth year.

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