Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Teachers are unique when compared to most other professionals, as pre-service teachers spend more than a decade observing teachers in practice before entering their own professional training. This study investigated teacher candidates at the earliest point of their teacher training, entry into a teacher certification program, at the University of Sydney and University of Auckland in 2005. Specifically, this study sought to address how prior experiences informed the teacher role identity of male primary, female secondary and non-traditional student teachers. These three teacher candidate groups emerged from a previous study (Sexton, 2002) which explored post-graduate teacher candidates’ beliefs with the most vivid and articulate prior experiences. The study used a mixed-model research design to explore the research question, How do pre-service teacher candidates interpret prior teacher experiences as to the type of teacher they do and do not want to become? 354 entry-level teacher candidates were surveyed using both closed item and open-ended responses. From these participants, 35 were then interviewed before their course commencement and then again after their first teaching practicum. The study showed that there were differences as to how prior teachers informed the teacher role identity of entry-level student teachers. Male primary candidates were more influenced by their positive primary experiences of role model teachers. Female secondary participants remembered those secondary teachers who encouraged the development of critical thinking and they now wish to emulate this in their practice. Non-traditional student teachers remembered a wider range of educational experiences and entered into their teaching program to make a difference in both their and their students’ lives. The study highlights how in-service teachers play an important role in not only who will become teachers but also what subjects and school level future teachers will teach.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Teachers are unique when compared to most other professionals, as pre-service teachers spend more than a decade observing teachers in practice before entering their own professional training. This study investigated teacher candidates at the earliest point of their teacher training, entry into a teacher certification program, at the University of Sydney and University of Auckland in 2005. Specifically, this study sought to address how prior experiences informed the teacher role identity of male primary, female secondary and non-traditional student teachers. These three teacher candidate groups emerged from a previous study (Sexton, 2002) which explored post-graduate teacher candidates’ beliefs with the most vivid and articulate prior experiences. The study used a mixed-model research design to explore the research question, How do pre-service teacher candidates interpret prior teacher experiences as to the type of teacher they do and do not want to become? 354 entry-level teacher candidates were surveyed using both closed item and open-ended responses. From these participants, 35 were then interviewed before their course commencement and then again after their first teaching practicum. The study showed that there were differences as to how prior teachers informed the teacher role identity of entry-level student teachers. Male primary candidates were more influenced by their positive primary experiences of role model teachers. Female secondary participants remembered those secondary teachers who encouraged the development of critical thinking and they now wish to emulate this in their practice. Non-traditional student teachers remembered a wider range of educational experiences and entered into their teaching program to make a difference in both their and their students’ lives. The study highlights how in-service teachers play an important role in not only who will become teachers but also what subjects and school level future teachers will teach.