Exploring the influence of professional development on teacher careers: A path model approach

•Literature review gives initial model of path framing survey and teacher interviews.•Initial model traces path from professional development (PD) to career outcomes.•Findings indicate PD can influence intention to stay in teaching.•Some evidence of impact on progression.•Path models useful for examining influence of PD on career - with limitations.

This paper develops a path model of professional development (PD) to explore the relationship between teacher PD and teacher careers and retention. A focussed literature review frames the study, which is based on a survey of 500 + teachers and interviews with 25 teachers. The findings provide evidence of the influence of PD on intermediate outcomes within the model and some evidence of influence on career progression. The paper concludes that a path model can provide a useful frame for examining the influence of PD on career, but the approach is limited given the complex, situated nature of teachers' careers.