By Trevor Havard – College of Education Intern

Perhaps the first thing that strikes you is the simplicity of the title: Becoming a Teacher. The straight-forward approach College of Education professor Forest Parkay uses in his textbook is a big reason why the textbook is now getting its tenth edition and is widely used in colleges and universities across the United States and world, including in languages like Mandarin and Indonesian.

The book’s milestone could be seen as Parkay’s swan song, with the educational leadership professor retiring at the end of the spring semester.

“I believe that teaching is the world’s most important profession, so it has been immensely satisfying to have spent a career helping to prepare teachers and school leaders,” said Parkay, who taught at the University of Florida for eight years and at Texas State University for five years before coming to WSU. “Since Becoming a Teacher is currently used by nearly 100 colleges and universities in the U.S., I know that I have reached students far beyond the three universities with which I have been affiliated.”

Becoming a Teacher dives head-first into the challenges future teachers face in today’s rapidly-changing, high-stakes educational environment. The tenth edition helps students make difficult decisions on their teaching future by fostering an awareness of the harsh realities of teaching in America in today’s society.

“The book provides students with the tools to answer the questions: Do I want to teach, and what does it take to succeed as a teacher today,” Parkay said.  

The new edition also puts an added focus on teacher quality and provides students with a greater understanding of key areas such as teacher leadership, political activism, teacher diversity and cultural competence, and social justice and democracy. The book is also available as an eText for the first time and features dozens of interactive videos to help students.

(For more photos see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/118927064@N04/sets/72157651382477289/)