South Texas Rural School Novice Teachers

ABSTRACT

In this complementary study, the researchers examine two novice rural teachers’ dispositions before and during their participation in the PD-STEP summer professional development sessions which began July 2018 with subsequent sessions on July 2019 and July 2020. Together, Professional Development for Secondary School Teachers and Educational Professionals (PD-STEP) into STEM fields model utilize research-based lessons aligned with curriculum standards and purposefully centered on: (a) agricultural mathematics, science, and technology knowledge and skills; (b) specific needs of English language learners; and (c) Indigenous, authentic agricultural topics through field-based experiences for teachers. These professional development activities explore opportunities available in the United States Department of Agriculture career paths and creates resource-rich partnerships between university faculty and rural schoolteachers.

KEYWORDS:

• Rural
• teacher preparation
• qualitative research
• preservice
• science education
• novice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture [12438895/2018-68010-27674]