Educator Perceptions of Self-Efficacy and Preparedness to Work in High Poverty Schools

Authors

Kristen CarrollFollow
Juliann Sergi McBrayer, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Marlynn GriffinFollow
Taylor Norman, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Summer Pannell, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityFollow
Mary Josephine CarneyFollow

Short Title

High Poverty School Preparedness

Keywords

Transformational Leadership, Self-Efficacy, Perceptions, Preparedness, High Poverty, Professional Development

Abstract

This study examined the perceptions of educators to determine if they felt that they were adequately prepared to teach in a high poverty school setting. The participants, educators from four school districts, completed a survey based on their perceptions of their own level of self-efficacy and preparedness to work in high poverty schools. The analyses indicated that, overall, educators felt well-prepared with limited supporting evidence to work in high poverty schools in the areas of student learning and engagement, which included curriculum and pedagogy, differentiation, and assessment. Findings further indicated a need for professional learning so educators can best support students in the high poverty setting in terms of problem solving when issues arise in the classroom. The implications for practice suggest that educators need support to ensure a high level of preparedness to work in high-poverty schools, as educators need to have a high level of self-efficacy to positively impact student success. Future research could help pinpoint specific areas of need within student learning and engagement to determine how to best develop professional learning opportunities that are purposeful, collaborative, and sustainable. Additional research should be conducted to determine if teachers' levels of self-efficacy and perceptions of preparedness are correlated to leadership style.

Recommended Citation

Carroll, Kristen; McBrayer, Juliann Sergi; Griffin, Marlynn; Norman, Taylor; Pannell, Summer; and Carney, Mary Josephine (2024) "Educator Perceptions of Self-Efficacy and Preparedness to Work in High Poverty Schools," School Leadership Review: Vol. 18: Iss. 2, Article 1.
Available at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/slr/vol18/iss2/1