A strength-based approach to teacher professional development

Based on positive psychology, self-determination theory and a perspective on teacher quality, this study proposes and examines a strength-based approach to teacher professional development. A mixed method pre-test/post-test design was adopted to study perceived outcomes of the approach for 93 teachers of six primary schools in the Netherlands and the development of their sense of selfefficacy, autonomy, competence and relatedness. Results revealed a statistically significant increase in feelings of autonomy and self-efficacy in coaching others. Taking existing potential of people and institutions as a starting point could be a promising way of (re-) creating flow in teachers and schools.