I am a teacher : reflections from female teachers, their stories and passion for education

This study examines why excellent working class rural female teachers remain in teaching. Although the teachers of this study admit to having experienced disillusionment during their teaching careers, they have remained passionate and enthusiastic educators, and are the teachers most often cited when colleagues, students and parents are discussing "good" teachers. Thus, this study seeks to determine the factors that influence these women educators to remain in education and to remain passionate about education. The original supposition that an administrator was a determinative variable in influencing the rural female educators proved to be erroneous. For the women of this study, their working class backgrounds, their beliefs that teaching is a calling and an art form, and their belief that teaching is a socially constructed form of public service are important determinative factors in their continuing belief in their educational career. Additionally, the women of this study, through their stories and interactions, disproved the stereotypical image of the female teacher who works alone. The teachers of this study actively seek out collegial relationships and pursue professional development