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This study compared teaching skill evaluations and professional disposition evaluations for candidates accepted and denied admission to an educator preparation program based upon GPA and testing requirements. The study sought to determine the relationship between academic and non-academic indicators and teaching skills. The data revealed academic indicators of GPA and test scores do not relate to teaching skills. A correlation was found between non-academic indicators, professional dispositions, and the teaching skills evaluation score. The results suggest professional dispositions may be a stronger indicator of success for admission to educator preparation programs and future licensure than GPA and test scores.

Evaluating the impact of new teachers on student learning is a requirement for accredited teacher preparation programs. This article shares findings from a mixed methods, multiple case study investigating P-12 student learning in the classrooms of six graduates two-three years after completing a teacher preparation program. Data collection included student engagement surveys, de-identified student growth percentile scores, teacher selected pre-post assessment data, and structured phone interviews with each graduate. Results indicated a majority of students from participants' classrooms demonstrated learning growth, and participants viewed their teaching as effective. Implications for programs include pre-service opportunities to identify and respond to authentic student engagement and opportunities to build collective teacher efficacy. Additional insights describe pre-service teacher training to measure student progress and measure impact based on classroom assessments. The investigation provides a replicable case study design for teacher educators to examine relationships between teacher preparation, program graduates, and P-12 student outcomes.

To realise the entitlement to Learning for Sustainability (LfS), the authors advocate for a post-critical orientation in university-based teacher education of the ‘head, heart, and hands’ model of transformative learning as an organising principle. Integration of intellect, emotion, and body as the activation triad can encourage students and teachers towards transformative engagement. Educational policies of the Scottish government, the influence on teaching practices, and benefits to student learning experiences are explored through the context of COP26 and teacher education in Scotland. Implications are proposed to inspire change in higher education for educating for a sustainable future.

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