Discussion of Findings

Abstract

This chapter of Veteran Teacher Resilience crystallizes findings from the veteran teacher interviews in relation to supporting data and literature. Individual and contextual factors from the study overlapped with results from published research. Factors of veteran teacher resilience are mapped onto resilience dimensions from a published teacher resiliency framework. Contextualizing and exemplifying the resilience framework, its four dimensions are described relative to the interview findings. These dimensions are professional (e.g., treated like professionals); social (e.g., mentoring support), motivational (e.g., accommodating schedule), and emotional (e.g., recognize teacher successes). In turn, the factors are discussed in an integrative fashion within the present study’s 14 distinct but interconnected thematic findings: resilient teachers display individual factors; believe education is important; find their purpose in teaching; are passionate about their students; are passionate about their content; display perseverance; play a role in the development of resilience; are positively supported by administration; experience positive relationships as nurturing of teacher resilience; experience positive school culture as growing teacher resilience; see the big picture; value experience; value strong mentors; and desire relevant professional development.