How Good Teachers Thrive - by Ken Badley (Hardcover)

About the Book

In How Good Teachers Thrive, the author offers a hopeful and reflective guide for navigating the challenges of today's educational landscape, grounding new and experienced.

Book Synopsis

In How Good Teachers Thrive, the author explores the teaching career as a journey, offering hope and practical strategies to help educators stay grounded in their sense of vocation. While valuable for teachers at all stages, the book is especially helpful for those new to the profession.
In the introduction and first two sections, the author examines the current educational landscape-both the external forces shaping schools and the inner lives of teachers. Drawing on Parker Palmer's language, the text reflects on how educators make meaning of their work.
Section III breaks the journey into three stages: early, mid, and late career. The author connects research on teacher flourishing with broader studies on living and aging well, and includes stories from over 100 teachers about what helps them thrive.
In Section IV, the book emphasizes the importance of community and encourages readers to build a personal support team.
Finally, Section V steps back to reflect on the habits and mindsets that support long-term growth and joy in the profession.

Review Quotes

"With a multitude of references to film, literature, architecture, and geology, Ken Badley examines the factors, metaphors, supports, and practices that can help teachers flourish. He addresses the journey from launching a teaching career, to sustaining passion in the middle years, to finding deep fulfillment all the way to retirement. Filled with concrete examples and engaging assignments, this book offers inspiration and practical guidance for educators at every stage, helping them nurture their well-being and calling to shape lives through teaching." --Albert Boerema, professor of education, Calvin University

"Teaching is hard. Thriving is harder. Ken Badley reminds us that both are possible- and worth it. How Good Teachers Thrive: Flourishing Long Term in a Noble Profession is the book every educator needs to remember why they started and how to keep going with joy, purpose, and hope." --Amy Fast, EdD, superintendent, Dayton School District, Oregon

About the Author

Ken is also a named author or editor of 17 other books, including both professional books and textbooks for teacher education programs or secondary classrooms. As book-review editor for an academic journal in education for 12 years (published by SAGE), Ken oversaw the publication of 400 book reviews by about 200 reviewers. Ken has taught secondary, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in Canada and the US. He has led hundreds of workshops for in-service teachers and have served as a conference speaker or guest professor on five continents. He currently holds the position of Research Professor in Education at Tyndale University in Toronto, where his primary responsibility is to support education faculty members in research and publication.