Promotion by Teaching Distinction: Developing resilience and cache for a track less traveled

Abstract

How does a teacher educator develop the resilience and cache necessary in a research-intensive culture to advance a career based on teaching? I consider this question by analyzing three successive applications for promotion and my responses to each. Previous self-study research gave me cache to position my teaching, research, and service in a way that could be recognized as worthy of promotion. I have examined the changing institutional culture objectively and capitalized on my assets, building my resilience to move past initial setbacks. I conclude by seeing my struggle as indicative of a broader collective struggle to value and acknowledge teaching as an academic practice (informing and informed by research) that is central to being an academic in a teacher education faculty.

Keywords:

• self-study
• transformation
• promotion through teaching

Acknowledgements

I acknowledge the support and encouragement I have received from critical friends and other crusaders. A special thanks to Alan Ovens, who unfailingly gives wise and generous counsel.