Abstract
Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine secondary family and consumer sciences (FCS) teachers self-career promotion behaviors to their students. Background: Research has confirmed that secondary FCS teachers are the best source of recruitment for the profession however there is a lack of knowledge of their self-career promotion behaviors to students. In other words, do they know they are marketers for the profession? Method: A qualitative research design with an online survey method was used for this study. Of the 152 Illinois Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Association members, 94 (62%) completed the questionnaire. The data was transcribed, categorized, and analyzed. Results: Majority of respondents indicated that secondary FCS teachers (50%) are responsible and promotion actions are refined for discussion during career lessons or not communicated at all to students. Conclusion: While respondents believe they are responsible, the lack in knowledge of implicitly advertising FCS teaching as a career may cause possible interested students to not consider this as a career and infers promotion education is needed for FCS teachers. Application: Self-career promotion strategies need to be communicated otherwise this career option will continue to be the best kept secret.
Included in
Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons, Secondary Education and Teaching Commons