Education is a field in which reflective practice is not only imperative for teacher and student success, but also for maintaining the desire to remain in the profession. During times of uncertainty, particularly as we faced the dual pandemics of social injustice and COVID-19 over the past year, we have felt demoralized and powerless. We know that we are not alone, as research indicates burnout, particularly among educators, is well-documented and increasing as a result of the continued heavy workload and added individual and societal stressors of the past year. During this turmoil, we have found solace, comfort, and connection in reflecting on our educational paths and sharing our stories with each other, friends, and colleagues. These reflective experiences, both individual and shared, have been powerful, rekindling our passion and desire to teach and thinking about ways we can support our students in and beyond the current climate of social unrest and a global pandemic. We believe that reading reflections of others' experiences will remind readers that they are not alone in their work, provide opportunities for them to find connections with fellow educators, and encourage them to engage in reflective practices of their own. The book is a timely collection of stories from various groups of people, such as those who identify as mothers, fathers, people of color, LGBTQIA scholars, first-generation college students, retired educators, those new to academia, and those with established academic careers, in an attempt to create a book where scholars can see themselves reflected in the stories of others, re-igniting the passion that led them to academia. This book is ideal for higher education faculty, those seeking to enter academia, educators who have left the classroom for administrative roles such as principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, and district leaders, those considering a career in academia, and those in graduate degree programs.

Learning to Be Teacher Leaders examines three integrated components of strong pedagogy-assessment, planning, and instruction-within a framework emphasizing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that can empower teachers to become teacher leaders within their schools. Combining the what, why, and how of teaching, the research-based concepts, presented in a pragmatic format, are relevant across grade levels, classrooms, and content areas. Designed to support success on national licensure assessments, this text brings together in one place the important features of learning to be an effective teacher, and becoming a teacher leader who continues to grow and develop within the profession. Taking a student-centered approach to instruction, it also recognizes the outside factors that can challenge this approach and provides strategies for coping with them. Using this book as a guide and resource, pre-service and beginning teachers will focus on the most important factors in teaching, resulting in strengthening their pedagogy and developing a language that helps them move forward in terms of agency and advocacy. A Companion Website provides additional resources for instructors and students.

Learning to Be Teacher Leaders examines three integrated components of strong pedagogy-assessment, planning, and instruction-within a framework emphasizing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that can empower teachers to become teacher leaders within their schools. Combining the what, why, and how of teaching, the research-based concepts, presented in a pragmatic format, are relevant across grade levels, classrooms, and content areas. Designed to support success on national licensure assessments, this text brings together in one place the important features of learning to be an effective teacher, and becoming a teacher leader who continues to grow and develop within the profession. Taking a student-centered approach to instruction, it also recognizes the outside factors that can challenge this approach and provides strategies for coping with them. Using this book as a guide and resource, pre-service and beginning teachers will focus on the most important factors in teaching, resulting in strengthening their pedagogy and developing a language that helps them move forward in terms of agency and advocacy. A Companion Website provides additional resources for instructors and students.

Education is a field in which reflective practice is imperative for teacher and student success and for maintaining the desire to remain in the profession. During times of uncertainty, particularly as teachers faced the dual pandemics of social injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, they have felt demoralized and powerless. As a result, burnout among educators is becoming increasingly prevalent. It is crucial for teachers to hear reflections of others' experiences to remind them that they are not alone in their work, provide opportunities for them to find connections with fellow educators, and encourage them to engage in reflective practices of their own. Teacher Reflections on Transitioning From K-12 to Higher Education Classrooms provides a collection of reflections from educators on their varied experiences within education and how and why they have pursued a place in academia. This book speaks to the humanistic side of academia by acknowledging the multiple passions, professions, and pathways that led each of the authors to academia. It is unique in that it is laced with the lived realities of the human side of academia from a shared stories perspective. Covering topics such as lifelong learners and identity shifts, this major reference work is ideal for academicians, researchers, scholars, practitioners, principals, administrators, educators, and students.