Resilience Theory: Risk and Protective Factors for Novice Special Education Teachers

Authors

  • Thomas L. Benjamin (Author) University of Hawaii at Manoa image/svg+xml
  • Rhonda S. Black (Author) University of Hawaii at Manoa
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.173
This study describes experiences of novice special education teachers in rural areas in Hawaii through a lens of resiliency theory. Two types of support--administrative and collegial--were examined in terms of being risk or protective processes. A case study design was used to give voice to five participants who expressed their satisfaction and concerns about support from administrators, interactions, expectations, recognition, teaching assignments, meetings and time. The study also examined support from general and special education colleagues, school staff, and outside service providers. Research findings may be of value to local, district, and state administrators and university personnel who wrestle with the issues of recruitment, preparation, and retention of special education teachers.

Benard, B. (1993). Fostering resiliency in kids. Educational Leadership, 51(3), 44-48.

Benard, B. (1996). From research to practice: The foundations of the resiliency paradigm. Resiliency in Action. Retrieved June 3, 1997, from http://www.resiliency.com/research.html

Benard, B. (1997). Drawing forth resilience in all our youth. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 6(1), 29-32.

Boe, E. E., Bobbitt, S. A., Cook, L. H., Whitener, S. D., & Weber, A. L. (1997). Why didst thou go? Predictors of retention, transfer, and attrition of special and general education teachers from a national perspective. Journal of Special Education, 30(4), 390-411. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/002246699703000403

Bogdan, R. C., & Biklen, S. K. (2003). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Brock, B. L., & Grady, M. L. (1997). From first-year to first-rate: Principals guiding beginning teachers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Brodkin, A. M., & Coleman, M. (1996). What makes a child resilient? How you can help kids succeed against the odds. Instructor, 105(8), 28-29.

Brown, J. H., D’Emidio-Caston, M., & Benard, B. (2001). Resilience education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Brownell, M. T., & Smith, S. W. (1992). Attrition/retention of education teachers: Critique of current research and recommendations for retention efforts. Teacher Education and Special Education, 15(4), 229-248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/088840649201500402

Brownell, M. T., Smith, S. W., McNellis, J., & Lenk, L. (1995). Career decisions in special education: Current and former teachers’ personal views. Exceptionality, 5(2), 83-102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327035ex0502_3

Brownell, M. T., Smith, S. W., McNellis, J. R., & Miller, M. D. (1997). Attrition in special education: Why teachers leave the classroom and where they go. Exceptionality, 7(3), 143-155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327035ex0703_1

Cegelka, P. T. (2004). The California shortage of highly qualified personnel for university faculty positions in special education: A literature review relating to the need for expanded doctoral preparation accessibility. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from http://www.teachcalifornia.org/resources/researchfiles/ihe_teacher_shortage_final%5B1%5D.doc

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Spring-Summer 2012

Eichinger, J. (2000). Job stress and satisfaction among special education teachers: Effects of gender and social role orientation. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 47(4), 397-412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/713671153

Friend, M., & Bursuck, W. D. (2006). Including students with special needs: A practical guide for classroom teachers. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Friend, M., & Cook, L. H. (2003). Interactions: Collaboration skills for school professionals (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Gehrke, R. S., & Murri, N. (2006). Beginning special educators’ intent to stay in the special education: Why they like it here. Teacher Education and Special Education, 29(3), 179-190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/088840640602900304

Gersten, R., Keating, T., Yovanoff, P., & Harniss, M. K. (2001). Working in special education: Factors that enhance special educators’ intent to stay. Exceptional Children, 67(4), 549-567. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290106700408

Griffin, C. C., Winn, J. A., Otis-Wilborn, A., & Kilgore, K. L. (2003). New teacher induction in special education: Executive summary (COPPSE Document No. RS-5E). Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education.

Guba, E., & Lincoln, Y. (1981). Effective evaluation: Improving the usefulness of evaluation results through responsive and naturalistic approaches. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Henderson, N., & Milstein, M. M. (2003). Resiliency in schools: Making it happen for students and educators. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press, Inc.

Holdman, L. M., & Harris, M. M. (2003). Special educators in a regional induction program. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 22(3), 12-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/875687050302200303

Johnson, S. M. (2004). Finders and keepers: Helping new teachers survive and thrive in our schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Kilgore, K. L., & Griffin, C. C. (1998). Beginning special educators: Problems of practice and the influence of school context. Teacher Education and Special Education, 21(3), 155-173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/088840649802100302

Krovetz, M. L. (1999). Fostering resiliency: Expecting all students to use their minds and hearts well. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Miller, M. D., Brownell, M. T., & Smith, S. W. (1999). Factors that predict teachers staying in, leaving, or transferring from the special education classroom. Exceptional Children, 65(2), 201-218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001440299906500206

National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future. (2003a). The first three years of teaching. Washington, DC: Author.

National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future: Hawaii Policy Group. (2001). The magic weavers: Securing the future for Hawaii’s children. Honolulu, HI: Author. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Richardson, G. E., Neiger, B. L., Jenson, S., & Kumpfer, K. L. (1990). The resiliency model. Health Education, 21(6), 33-39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00970050.1990.10614589

Rutter, M. (1987). Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 316-331. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-0025.1987.tb03541.x

Sack, J. L. (1999). All classes of special education teachers in demand throughout the nation. Education Week, 24(1), 12-15.

Singer, J. D. (1992). Are special educators’ career paths special? Results from a 13-year longitudinal study. Exceptional Children, 59(3), 262-279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001440299305900309

Singer, J. D. (1993). Once is not enough: Former special educators who return to teaching. Exceptional Children, 60(1), 58-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001440299306000106

Stempien, L. R., & Loeb, R. C. (2002). Differences in job satisfaction between general education and special education teachers. Remedial and Special Education, 23(5), 258-267. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/07419325020230050101

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Werner, E. (1995). Resilience in development. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4(3), 81-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10772327

Whitaker, S. D. (2000a). Mentoring beginning special education teachers and the relationship to attrition. Exceptional Children, 66(4), 546-566. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290006600407

Whitaker, S. D. (2000b). What do first-year special educators need? Teaching Exceptional Children, 33(6), 28-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/004005990003300105

Wisniewski, L., & Gargiulo, R. M. (1997). Occupational stress and burnout among special educators: A review of the literature. Journal of Special Education, 31(3), 325-347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/002246699703100303

There are 40 references in total.
Benjamin, T. L., & Black, R. S. (2012). Resilience Theory: Risk and Protective Factors for Novice Special Education Teachers. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 7(2), 5-27. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.173

Downloads

Article Information

  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted May 13, 2012
  • Published June 15, 2012
  • Issue Spring/Summer 2012
  • Section Articles
  • File Downloads 0
  • Abstract Views 3
  • Altmetrics
  • Share
Download data is not yet available.