UC Spark

Dr Susan Lovett

School of Educational Studies and Leadership

Fields of Research

  • Student leadership
  • Student engagement in learning
  • Learning leadership
  • Early career learning & development for teachers
  • Teacher leadership
  • Leadership for school improvement
  • Initial teacher preparation
  • Teacher induction
  • Local curriculum development
  • School community partnerships

Researcher Summary

Teacher retention is a problem for the teaching profession. We are losing teachers in their first few years at an alarming rate. My study with NZCER entitled "Teachers of Promise: Aspirations and realities" has targetted teachers of promise to ascertain what factors serve to keep our best teachers motivated and committed to their jobs. The focus for this longitudinal study is 57 promising primary and secondary teachers from their 3rd to 7th years of teaching. These teachers have been interviewed to ascertain their reasons for choosing teaching as a career, their pathways into teaching (first career or second career choices), experiences of initial teacher education and induction, progressions into positions of responsibility, support for new responsibilities and career plans.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Projects

Key Methodologies

  • Qualitative methodologies
  • Quality learning circles
  • Focus group interviewing

Affiliations

Publications


  • Dempster, N., Lovett, S. and Flückiger, B. (2012) An evaluation of emerging principals professional development program. Final report to Queensland Education Leadership Institute (QELi). Queensland Education Leadership Institute (QELi). 15pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Cameron, M. and Lovett, S. (2012) Early career teachers: Messages from the Teachers of Promise Study. Christchurch, New Zealand: CORE Education Breakfast Seminar Series, 6 Nov 2012. (Oral Presentation)
  • Cameron, M. and Lovett, S. (2012) Early career teachers: Messages from the Teachers of Promise Study. Wellington, New Zealand: CORE Education Breakfast Series, 9 Nov 2012. (Oral Presentation)
  • De Comarmond, O., Abbiss, J. and Lovett, S. (2012) For the love of teaching: Commitment of beginning secondary teachers in Seychelles. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand Association for Research in Education Conference and Annual Meeting (NZARE), 28-30 Nov 2012. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Dempster, N., Fluckiger, B. and Lovett, S. (2012) Principals reflecting on their leadership learning with an heuristic: A pilot study. University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia: Joint Australian Association Research in Education and Asia Pacific Educational Research Association Conference (AARE & APERA), 2-6 Dec 2012. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Lovett, S. and Cameron, M. (2012) To lead or not to lead: that is the question. Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia: International Symposium on Leadership, Learning and Change, 13-14 Sep 2012. (Oral Presentation)
  • Lovett, S. and Cameron, M. (2011) Career pathways: does remaining close to the classroom matter for early career teachers? A study of practice in New Zealand and the USA. Professional Development in Education 37(2): 213-224. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2010.531613. (Journal Article)
  • Lovett, S. and Andrews, D. (2011) Leadership for learning: what it means for teachers. In T. Townsend and J. MacBeath (Ed.), International Handbook of Leadership for Learning. Springer International Handbooks of Education Vol. 25: 719-740. Dordrecht: Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1350-5_40. (Chapter in Book)
  • Lovett, S. (2011) Learning-centred leadership: a case study. In R. Notman (Ed.), Successful educational leadership in New Zealand: Case studies of schools and an early childhood centre: 15-26. Wellington: NZCER Press. (Chapter in Book)
  • Lovett, S. and Cameron, M. (2011) Schools as professional learning communities for early-career teachers: how do early-career teachers rate them? Teacher Development 15(1): 87-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2011.555226. (Journal Article)
  • Dempster, N., Lovett, S. and Fluckiger, B. (2011) Singing My Song: A Leader's Own Professional Development Landscape. Adelaide, Australia: Australian Council for Educational Leaders 2011 Conference (ACEL), 5-7 Oct 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Dempster, N., Lovett, S. and Fluckiger, B. (2011) Strategies to develop school leadership. A select literature review. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) funded by the Australian Government. 42pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Lovett, S., Verstappen, P., Clarke, M. and Gilmore, A. (2010) How children, staff and community combine to lead learning in a primary school. Christchurch, New Zealand: New Zealand Educational Administration and Leadership Society (NZEALS) Conference, 7-9 Apr 2010. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Dempster, N., Lovett, S., Andrews, D., Watson, L. and Clarke, S. (2010) Issues in Leadership for Learning Research, Policy and Practice in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney, Australia: 2010 Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration & Management and the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) International Conference, 29 Sep-1 Oct 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Lovett, S. and Clarke, M. (2010) The researcher's challenge of accessing children's perspectives on their learning: searching for a way forward. Christchurch, New Zealand: Graham Nuthall Classroom Research Trust International Symposium 2010, 16-18 Aug 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Lovett, S. and Clarke, M. (2009) 2020Vision. A case study of school-based curriculum development in a New Zealand primary school. Progress Report to Cognition Education Research Trust, 31 December 2009. Cognition Education Research Trust. 74pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Lovett, S. and Clarke, M. (2009) 2020Vision. A case study of school-based curriculum development in a New Zealand primary school. Progress Report to Cognition Education Research Trust, 31 July 2009. Cognition Education Research Trust. 64pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Lovett, S. (2009) Students as partners in cyclic continuous curriculum development. Athens, Greece: 33rd Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) International Conference, 30 Oct 2009. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Clarke, M., Lovett, S. and Verstappen, P. (2009) The Southbridge Triangle: Blurring the edges. Rotorua, New Zealand: NZARE Conference & Annual Meeting, 30 Nov-4 Dec 2009. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Lovett, S. and Davey, R. (2008) Learning to be a secondary English teacher: Complex realities in the first 18 months. Auckland, New Zealand: PPTA Professional Conference 2008: Secondary Teaching on the Move, 17-19 Apr 2008. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Anthony, G., Kane, R., Bell, B., Butler, P., Davey, R., Fontaine, S., Haigh, M., Lovett, S., Mansell, R., Naidoo, K., Ord, K., Prestidge, B., Sandretto, S. and Stephens, C. (2008) Making a difference: The role of initial teacher education and induction in the preparation of secondary teachers. Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI). 84pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Cameron, M., Garvey Berger, J., Lovett, S. and Baker, R. (2007) "AKO": Being a teacher, being a learner, being part of a learning profession. Chicago, IL, USA: American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting 2007, 9-13 Apr 2007. http://www.nzcer.org.nz/pdfs/15413.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Lovett, S. (2007) "Teachers of Promise": Is Teaching Their First Career Choice? New Zealand Annual Review of Education 16: 29-53. (Journal Article)
  • Cameron, M., Baker, R., Garvey Berger, J. and Lovett, S. (2007) Early career teachers' opportunities for professional learning: impacts on teaching practice, job satisfaction, motivation and career decisions. University of London, London, UK: British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference 2007, 5-8 Sep 2007. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Lovett, S. and Davey, R. (2007) Learning to be a secondary english teacher: complex realities in the first year. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: 2007 New Zealand Association for Educational Research (NZARE) Conference: Education in the Pacific, 4-7 Dec 2007. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Cameron, M., Lovett, S. and Garvey Berger, J. (2007) 'Share, consolidate, breathe': the fifth year in the classroom. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: 2007 New Zealand Association for Educational Research (NZARE) Conference: Education in the Pacific, 4-7 Dec 2007. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Cameron, M., Lovett, S. and Garvey Berger, J. (2007) Starting out in teaching: surviving or thriving as a new teacher. SET Research Information for Teachers (3): 32-37. (Journal Article)
  • Davey, R., Kane, R., Lovett, S. and Stephens, C. (2006) Being a secondary teacher. Rotorua, New Zealand: 2006 New Zealand Association for Educational Research (NZARE) Conference, 5-8 Dec 2006. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Cameron, M., Baker, R. and Lovett, S. (2006) Teachers of Promise. Getting started in teaching. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. 117pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Cameron, M., Baker, R. and Lovett, S. (2006) Teachers of promise: A longitudinal study of the professional identities, careers, and workplace learning of 56 New Zealand primary and secondary teachers from their third year of teaching. Dunedin, New Zealand: Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand (TEFANZ) Conference 2006, 3-5 Jul 2006. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Lovett, S. (2006) The professional learning needs of early career teachers: What's possible and desired between individuals, colleagues and contexts? Rotorua, New Zealand: 2006 New Zealand Association for Educational Research (NZARE) Conference, 5-8 Dec 2006. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Cameron, M., Lovett, S., Baker, R. and Waiti, P. (2004) Evaluation of First-time Principals Induction Programme 2003.. Ministry of Education. (Report for External Body)
  • Lovett, Susan. and Verstappen, Peter. (2004) Improving teachers' professional learning: The quality learning circle approach. New Zealand Journal of Educational Leadership 19(2): 31-43. (Journal Article)
  • Lovett, S. (2002) Teacher learning and development in primary schools: a view gained through the National Education Monitoring Project. PhD, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. (Thesis - Doctor of Philosophy)