Moving Towards Proficiency: A Grounded Theory Study of Early Childhood Teacher Candidates and Professional Development Schools

Demands placed on early childhood teacher development, teacher candidates, and professionals who prepare future teachers, continue to increase. Although inquiry addresses high-stakes teacher development, research on programs in early childhood professional development schools as a pathway to mediate the increased demand is needed. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework to evaluate teacher candidate development that is aligned with state measures of teacher effectiveness in a professional development school. Constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, Constructing grounded theory, Sage, 2014) guided the collection and analysis of forty-three semi-structured interviews. A theoretical framework of three interrelated categories was identified: Engaged Teacher Candidate, Professional Teacher Candidate, and Reflective Teacher Candidate. Even further, seven interrelated sub-categories in the teacher candidates' development were identified: establish relationships, classroom management, technical aspects of teaching, teacher quality standards, professional dispositions, self-reflection, and goal setting. The overarching framework was named Proficient Teacher Candidate. The framework will be evaluated against a taxonomy of development in relation to a professional development school.