Educator Perceptions of Self-Efficacy and Preparedness to Work in High Poverty Schools

Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration. Web site: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/slr/

Y

20

Teacher Attitudes; Self Efficacy; Poverty; Elementary Schools; Middle Schools; High Schools; School Personnel; Instructional Leadership; Role; Educational Attainment; Attitudes; Teaching Experience; Disadvantaged Schools; Faculty Development; Professional Development; Staff Development

1559-4998

This study examined the perceptions of educators to determine if they felt that they were adequately prepared to teach in a high poverty school setting. The participants, educators from four school districts, completed a survey based on their perceptions of their own level of self-efficacy and preparedness to work in high poverty schools. The analyses indicated that, overall, educators felt well-prepared with limited supporting evidence to work in high poverty schools in the areas of student learning and engagement, which included curriculum and pedagogy, differentiation, and assessment. Findings further indicated a need for professional learning so educators can best support students in the high poverty setting in terms of problem solving when issues arise in the classroom. The implications for practice suggest that educators need support to ensure a high level of preparedness to work in high-poverty schools, as educators need to have a high level of self-efficacy to positively impact student success. Future research could help pinpoint specific areas of need within student learning and engagement to determine how to best develop professional learning opportunities that are purposeful, collaborative, and sustainable. Additional research should be conducted to determine if teachers' levels of self-efficacy and perceptions of preparedness are correlated to leadership style.

As Provided

2024

EJ1426332