Chapter 11: Data Summary and Recommendations

What can an individual glean from a purposeful initiative to gather research-based evidence regarding the nature and characteristics of preservice teachers in South Carolina’s colleges and universities? The case scenario above reflects the key findings of this multi-case research study across South Carolina. It presents a profile of a typical pre-service teacher candidate entering the teaching profession in South Carolina and the types of supports provided in her program that made it possible for her to achieve excellence in her profession. This collaborative research is a laudable initiative that brings together a set of cases that are categorically bound to study the nature and characteristics of students entering the teaching profession (Merriam, 2015). A common set of qualitative survey questions and interview methodology provided the consistency and structure of this collaborative multi-case inquiry across eight institutions of higher education institutions that prepare teachers.