Resilience, Collaboration, and Professional Growth: The Role of Teacher Communities of Practice in Ukraine

Main Article Content

Anastasiia Syzenko
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8443-7813
Olha Pavlenko
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3233-6361

Abstract

In the context of the ongoing Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, resilience has become a crucial attribute for educators striving to maintain quality education under adverse conditions. This paper examines teacher-led Communities of Practice (CoPs) as a practical tool for sustaining resilience and boosting collaboration and professional development. The paper explores how CoPs are supporting teachers by creating environments where they can collaborate, share resources, and support each other professionally and emotionally. The study investigates the role of CoPs in building a vital sense of community, reducing isolation and offering a space for collaborative problem-solving and sharing of best practices. The study draws on a convergent mixed-methods survey of 264 secondary-school English teachers from all 24 regions of Ukraine. The findings suggest that participation in CoPs not only helps to deal with the complexities of remote and disrupted teaching but also strengthens the emotional resilience needed to face the trauma of war.

Article Details

Section

Articles (refereed)

Author Biographies

Anastasiia Syzenko, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine

With a Ph.D in Philology, she is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine. Her research interests include internationalization of higher education, development of global competence, and professional teacher training.

Olha Pavlenko, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine

With a Ph.D in Education, she is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Linguistics of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine. Her research focuses on digital technologies, universal design principles, and continuous professional development in education.