Chapter 4: The Complexity Of Professional Development In Teacher Education

Standard 4 of the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) Standards for Teacher Educators focuses on Professional Development. It has five indicators. Standard 4 addresses the prevailing misconception that transitioning to higher education suggests educators have somehow “arrived” as experts in their field, implying they have completed the learning process. However, teacher educators are perpetual learners. Despite their existing knowledge, there are continuous opportunities to deepen and broaden their understanding. The field of teacher education is intricate, and the clinical component, involving close partnerships with schools and supervision of teacher candidates in the field, can be particularly demanding. Recognizing that there are other teacher educators to learn alongside provides a valuable network of support.