We're All in this Together: Collaborative Professional Development with Student Teaching Supervisors

Abstract

Although the work of the internship supervisor is vital to the teacher preparation process, little attention has been paid to supervisors in research or practice. In response to this issue, the authors implemented a collaborative professional development experience for internship supervisors. Data were collected through focus group interviews and an open-ended survey to determine how participation in the professional development experience impacted supervisors' work and experiences in their teacher education program. Findings included strengths and weaknesses of the project, as well as suggestions for future endeavors. The data indicate that such groups are potentially beneficial for participants.