The Six Professional Phases of Teaching

Teachers entering the classroom fresh from their MAT programs are often filled with hope, excitement, and a sense of real purpose. After all, people pursue careers in teaching to make a positive impact on their students and on society. In graduate programs for teachers, future educators learn to build lesson plans that will inspire and engage—but over the years, those in teaching careers can experience burnout and frustration with the education system. 
It’s important for administrators, families, and communities to understand the phases of a teacher’s career to support them throughout their time in the classroom.

What Are the Six Phases of a Teaching Career?

The six phases of a teacher’s professional life were defined by professor Christopher Day, an expert in the field of education. Day surveyed 300 teachers in England about their lives and experiences in the classroom. While the study was conducted in 2007, it is still considered relevant today, both in England and in the United States.1

Phase 1: Years 0–3

When teachers first enter the classroom, they are usually eager and enthusiastic. They are developing their teaching style and getting used to what it means to lead in the classroom. They are also coming into their identity as a teacher. This can be a scary and exciting time as they learn to manage the workload, expectations, and relationships of being a teacher. 

Phase 2: Years 4–7

This can be a challenging time for teachers as they struggle to maintain their sense of fulfillment. They can become disillusioned by intense workloads, long hours, and shifting expectations of parents, students, and school administrators. This is a time when many teachers, still in their 20s, experience waning enthusiasm and may even leave the field to pursue other careers. 

Phase 3: Years 8–15

Teachers in this phase may be experiencing changes in their own lives as they hit their 30s and their identities and priorities shift. They may put more energy into their personal lives as they get married, buy homes, or become parents, and this can conflict with their commitment to teaching. This a time of concern for teachers who feel like they have become stuck in their careers, and they may question if they want to remain in the classroom.

Phase 4: Years 16–23

Teachers who remain in the classroom throughout their 30s often feel the pull between their work life and their personal lives, and they may struggle to find balance. Teachers who feel they are not growing in their careers can become dissatisfied with the profession, which can reflect in their attitudes toward their students. However, teachers who get support and resources can thrive through this period. This is when they may find new confidence in the classroom as their own teaching style solidifies, bringing renewed engagement and excitement. 

Phase 5: Years 24–30

Depending on their previous experiences, this can either be a time of strength or of flagging commitment for teachers. Teachers who strongly feel their teaching identity has benefitted their students and their community will often find energy and satisfaction as they move closer to retirement. Those who have struggled and felt unsupported can decline during this phase, bringing poor morale into the classroom.

Phase 6: Years 31+

With retirement on the horizon, teachers will either maintain their energy or will feel trapped and deflated. 
What Can We Learn from the Phases of Teaching?

It’s important to note that these phases are not set in stone and teachers may move in and out of different phases throughout their careers. They may also start down a path of feeling dissatisfied only to be renewed later by a change in school or administration. Teaching careers are long and require a lot of dedication, so there are bound to be ups and downs along the way. 

The important takeaway from these phases is that teachers benefit from support and resources from administrators, peers, and families to feel fulfilled and motivated throughout their careers. Keeping teachers engaged is in the public interest, as happy teachers benefit not only students, but also the schools and communities they serve. 

A great way for teachers to stay inspired and motivated is to pursue further learning to hone their practice and their skills in the classroom. There are many short- and long-term options for teachers who want to renew their love of teaching. One great example is an MS in Education program, which is designed specifically for experienced teachers who want to take a new step in their career.

Why Should Experienced Teachers Consider Walden’s Online MSEd Program?

Walden University offers an online MS in Education (MSEd) program that is designed to reignite your passion for working with P–12 students. As a student in this master’s in education program, you will learn teaching strategies you can apply immediately in your own classroom: 

• Apply strength-based learning practices in diverse student populations.
• Use data to inform lesson plan designs and promote student learning.
• Understand strategies for engaging and collaborating with families and communities.
• Build lesson plans that excite and empower you and your students.

Walden has been a leader in distance education for more than 50 years. As a student in our online master’s in education program, you can choose when you attend class, so you can maintain your current commitments. You can also choose from 14 specializations depending on your own skills and interests. You can focus your studies on teacher leadership, special education, STEM, reading and literacy, or another education area.

If the time is right for you to reenergize your love of teaching, consider an MS in Education. If you are new to teaching and are looking for teacher licensure, consider Walden’s online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. 

Walden University is an accredited institution offering an MS in Education degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-careers-go-through-phases-they-need-support-in-each/2024/05

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.

Note on Teacher Licensure or Certification: The only MS in Education specialization offered by Walden that is state-approved as leading to any educational license or certification is the Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Licensure Program), which has been approved in Ohio for leading to Building Level Principal Licensure (grades PK–6, grades 4–9, and grades 5–12). No other MS in Education specialization will lead to teacher licensure or certification. Teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether this program may qualify for salary advancement.