Novice Teachers' Stories Represented As a Graphic Narrative

• Main Author: Deardorff, Philip
• Other Authors: Kalin, Nadine
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2013
• Subjects: Education; art; certification; graphic novel
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc271802/

The issue of alternative certification teacher training has greatly affected art education over three decades. As a result of training through alternative certification, many art educators enter the profession unprepared and unable to cope with the realities of teaching. This study attempts to understand and represent the experiences and struggles of four alternatively certified art teachers, including myself. By reading these stories, others within the education community can empathize with and provide support for struggling novice teachers. This creative thesis uses a graphic novel format to represent participants' stories. By combining text and imagery, the graphic novel format provides different meanings, interpretations, and insights into the teachers' lives. This medium offered a unique and rich perspective on the stories of what it is like being an alternatively certified art teacher.