Abstract
Many preservice teachers are concerned about finding the correct position in education when they graduate. In United States' schools mission statements have been in vogue for decades, but these statements often do not live up to the reality. This article describes an action research project that assists teacher candidates in assessing school culture and matching it against the institution's self‐description. The process includes experiences of culture, surfacing personal questions, photography and reflection upon institutional documents using a university then a partner basic school.