Bills and Gregory Hamot, for their continuous support of my research. I would especially like to thank Professor Hamot for his patience, support, and immense knowledge in guiding me through the final stages of writing this dissertation. I would also like to thank the rest of my dissertation committee, Professor Marcus Haack, Renita Schmidt, and Donald Yarbrough, for their insightful comments and encouragement. I would like to thank Professor Schmidt for her guidance and critique throughout the data collection and analysis process. My sincere thanks also goes to the teacher participants who provided their invaluable insights about the rewards and challenges of teaching. Without their commitment, it would not be possible to conduct this study. I thank my fellow teaching assistants for the stimulating discussions, camaraderie, and for all the fun we have had as graduate students. Also, I thank my family and friends for their emotional and moral support, which funneled my optimism and hope through the sometimes challenging times of navigating the demands of graduate school, work, and family.