ABSTRACT
The field of education is constantly changing, and with the current COVID-19 pandemic, it will undoubtedly change the way education systems operate in the future. This chapter covers several key topics related to navigating post-doctoral career opportunities for PK-12 educators. Educators are in a unique position to contribute to research in the field in which they have a plethora of experiences. With a major focus on student outcomes, there is a critical need to understand factors that directly impact learning such as parent involvement, socio-economic status, technology, and student behavior. Using an ethnographic approach, the authors provide insight into challenges post-doctoral professionals may face in attempts to enhance their professional identity. These narrative accounts shed light on not only the role of mentors but the desire to contribute to the body of research through the development of research agendas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)