The overarching purpose of the study was specifically designed to examine how teacher preparation programs contributed to novice teachers' sense of self-efficacy. The significance of this study related to how well teachers were prepared, based upon their preparation program. This qualitative methods study incorporated a research design consisting of phenomenological research. Eleven thematic findings derived based upon the participants' input after several series of data analysis and reduction, using a general deductive approach. Results showed many implications of how teacher preparation programs contributed to the participants' sense of self-efficacy. Major implications for teacher preparation programs and their impact on novice teachers are discussed, such as improvement measures for preparation programs, and opportunities to increase teacher effectiveness.

There is currently a shortage of African American vocational teachers. If the shortage is to be averted, vocational professionals must find ways to increase the number of African American teachers in vocational education (Arnold & Levesque, 1992; Martinez, 1991; Young, 1989). The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influenced African Americans to become vocational teachers and to identify experiences related to their progress in vocational teacher licensure programs. Factors identified as influencing African Americans to select vocational teaching careers were linked with factors found in the O'Neil, Meeker, and Borger (1978) Sex Role Socialization and Career Decision-Making model. This qualitative study consisted of structured interviews with 12 college students who were preparing to become vocational teachers. Students were interviewed at 6 campuses in 2 southeastern states. Students represented vocational programs in (a) agriculture education, (b) business education, (c) family and consumer sciences education, (d) marketing education, (e) trade and industrial education, and (f) technology education. Six of the students were from predominantly white universities and 6 students were from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The findings of the study revealed that the most significant influences behind respondents choosing vocational teaching careers related to teacher role models, family support, altruism, the intangible benefits of teaching, and love for vocational professions. Most of the factors identified related to factors found in the O'Neil et al. (1978) model. A factor, entitled the Spritual Factor, emerged in addition to those identified in the original O'Neil et al. model. Positive relationships with knowledgeable faculty, supportive peers, active participation in vocational organizations, and confidence in academic preparation, enhanced the progress of students in vocational licensure programs. All universities selected in the study shared similar elements. Students and faculty at HBCUs, however, tended to lean toward a student-centered focus while students and faculty at predominantly white universities tended to lean toward an academically-oriented focus. / Ph. D.

The cross-case analysis described in this study explores the patterns of practice that support the induction needs of Alternatively Certified Teachers (ACTs) in the high school educational environment of a large suburban school district. Bronfenbrenner's (1976) systemic model of the educational environment that envisions a series of nested, interacting sub-systems is utilized as a roadmap for exploration. Data were collected beginning in the macro-system and continuing through the exo-system, meso-system, and micro-system of the educational environment. Interviews with teacher educators at the macro-system level, with central office staff at the exo-system level, with school administrators at the meso-system level, and with ACTs at the micro-system level were the primary means of data collection. Case study schools included three "high-ACT schools" with the largest number of ACTs in the district and two "norm-ACT schools" that reflected the average number of ACTs in the remaining five high schools in the district. Observations at teacher induction activities and mentor training sessions and analysis of relevant documents, including mentor program evaluation responses, were used to triangulate the data. Evolving display matrices were the primary strategy for data analysis. Themes were identified at each level of the educational environment. Differences among the sub-systems and between the "high-ACT" and "norm-ACT" schools were described. Findings revealed the following consistent themes within the levels of the high school environment: (a) the use of creative recruitment practices that include recognition of the value of ACTs as an important resource for finding new teachers; (b) emphasis on the role of personal qualities and teacher beliefs in equipping an individual to make a successful transition to teaching; (c) the pervasive sense of culture shock that ACTs experience; (d) the emphasis on establishing a wide network of formal and informal mentors; and (e) the emphasis on learning the connection between classroom management and good instruction. The study concluded that the general patterns of practice supporting ACTs in the high school educational environment can be organized into the following categories: (a) blending theory and practice by infusing university expertise into the schoolhouse; (b) promoting formal and informal mentoring; and (c) differentiating support to meet the special needs of ACTs. / Ed. D.

The purpose of this study was to compare the self-efficacy of two groups of first year teachers working in a large urban school district in North Texas. Twenty-eight of the participants were certified teachers. Ten participants held college degrees unrelated to teaching and were undergoing an alternative certification process. The Teacher Efficacy Scale was administered at the beginning and the end of the school year. Data from this scale was analyzed to determine if there were differences between the regular certification teachers and the alternative certification teachers at the beginning and the end of the school year, and to determine if their sense of efficacy changed over the course of the school year.

This study investigates the inter-rater reliability of appraisers who award exceptional quality points on the Texas Teacher Appraisal Instrument. Inter-rater reliability was measured when appraisers scored exceptional quality points after viewing a videotaped lesson. Comparisons were made between appraisers when grouped according to elementary or secondary certification, sex, years of administrative experience, and type of training. A total of 707 subjects from 56 school districts participated in the study. Five research hypotheses were formulated with the .05 level of significance for acceptance. All hypotheses were tested by correlation of coefficients, multiple response procedures, frequencies, and percentages. The data measuring inter-rater reliability of the appraisers in training imply that there is very little reliability in the awarding of exceptional quality points on the Texas Teacher Appraisal Instrument. The findings of this study are that certification, sex, administrative experience, and type of training made no significant differences when scoring the instrument. Therefore, it is concluded that the scoring of exceptional quality points is a subjective, professional judgment made by each appraiser when observing a teacher. Since no significant reliability was found, the scoring of exceptional quality points cannot be supported as a reliable means of determining the quality of teaching in Texas schools. Generally, elementary certified appraisers awarded fewer exceptional quality points than secondary appraisers, males awarded slightly more points than females, appraisers indicated no noticeable trend because of years of administrative experience, and less experienced appraisers had the tendency to award more points than experienced appraisers. Therefore, inter-rater reliability in awarding exceptional quality points cannot be expected on a consistent basis. Each appraiser, regardless of certification, sex, years of administrative experience or training, will use his or her own professional judgment when scoring the instrument.

O objetivo dessa dissertação de mestrado é realizar uma análise sobre como o mecanismo de certificação profissional /de competências, originário de práticas gerenciais do setor produtivo, penetrou no universo educacional por meio da certificação de professores. Esse mecanismo tem sido utilizado tanto como uma forma de avaliação da qualidade do trabalho docente, constituindo-se como um mecanismo que favorece o pagamento de bônus por desempenho, quanto tem se estabelecido como uma forma de recrutamento e seleção de profissionais de diversas áreas para atuação como professores. / The objective of this masters dissertation is to analyze the professional skills certification mechanisms, originating from the management practices of the productive sector, has penetrated into the education universe by means of teachers certification. This mechanism has being used both as an effective way for the facultys quality evaluation, constituting itself as a mechanism that favors performance bonus payment, such as an way for recruitment of professionals from several areas to work as professors as well.

This study investigates certified and non-certified teachers in Sweden and how they themselves view the status of their profession. Teacher certifications were introduced to Sweden in 2011, under the assumption that it would raise the status of qualified teachers. Recent results from international studies showed that Swedish students have fallen in rank compared to other countries around the world, and one of the proposed solutions proposed to this was to raise the status of teachers, as well as their pay. A higher status would then solve other issues, such as the low number of applications to university courses related to teaching. This study asked high school teachers, through an online questionnaire, what their views were on the status change the reform was supposed to create. The status changes were measured via questions regarding if they felt their students and their students parents viewed certified teachers differently than those without a teaching certificate, if the teachers felt that the certification had changed their status since it was introduced, and how important the teachers felt the certification was for the future. The teachers were sorted into groups based on what subjects they taught, how long they had worked as teachers, and what the focus of their high school was. Based on their answers the study showed that most teachers felt that students did not see a difference between teachers regarding certification while their parents did. It also showed that few teachers experienced their status had changed, but thought that the certification was important for the future of the profession even if a large number of teachers were disappointed with the implementation of the certifications. The study also showed that the teachers whom had worked for a long time in the profession had a more positive outlook on certifications as a whole but felt that it should only apply to younger teachers.

O objetivo dessa dissertação de mestrado é realizar uma análise sobre como o mecanismo de certificação profissional /de competências, originário de práticas gerenciais do setor produtivo, penetrou no universo educacional por meio da certificação de professores. Esse mecanismo tem sido utilizado tanto como uma forma de avaliação da qualidade do trabalho docente, constituindo-se como um mecanismo que favorece o pagamento de bônus por desempenho, quanto tem se estabelecido como uma forma de recrutamento e seleção de profissionais de diversas áreas para atuação como professores. / The objective of this masters dissertation is to analyze the professional skills certification mechanisms, originating from the management practices of the productive sector, has penetrated into the education universe by means of teachers certification. This mechanism has being used both as an effective way for the facultys quality evaluation, constituting itself as a mechanism that favors performance bonus payment, such as an way for recruitment of professionals from several areas to work as professors as well.

The concern that prompted this study is the inadequacy of the present system of handling teacher certification information, especially as it involves the movement of information between Texas' teacher-certifying universities, local school districts, and the Texas Education Agency. Since it was found that no computerized certification system presently exists in any state, the primary purpose of this study was to develop a model for a computerized teacher certification information system; a secondary purpose was to determine the major factors involved in regard to the feasibility of such a model. The model is written from an education administration viewpoint and is limited to in-state elementary and secondary teacher certification, 1972 certification standards, and existing computer capabilities.

This study examined two types of teacher certification. The certifications of elementary teachers and early childhood teachers were the focus of the study. The purpose of the study was to determine if a relationship existed between teacher certification (early childhood grades pre-kindergarten through fourth and elementary education grades one through eight) and the use of developmentally appropriate practices in kindergarten classrooms in northeast Tennessee. The approach to the study was quantitative. Data were collected from teacher and classroom observations using the Early Childhood Rating Scale-Revised. Participants included kindergarten teachers in northeast Tennessee. The researcher investigated the extent to which kindergarten teachers were implementing developmentally appropriate practices in kindergarten classrooms in northeast Tennessee. There were no statistically significant differences between the extent to which kindergarten teachers with early childhood certification and kindergarten teachers with elementary education certification were implementing developmentally appropriate practices as determined by the Early Childhood Rating Scale-Revised. There were statistically significant differences in the extent to which kindergarten teachers with early childhood certification and kindergarten teachers with elementary education certification working in the city and county were implementing personal care routines. Differences were also noted between groups in parent and staff variables.