Teacher Reflections on Transitioning From K-12 to Higher Education Classrooms

Book excerpt: 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.