Differences in Professional Development and Empowerment among Childcare Teachers by Types of Professional Support and Financial Support

This study aimed to examine the clustering of professional support and financial support for childcare teachers and to analyze the differences in professional development and empowerment among these clusters. A survey was conducted with 500 childcare teachers from Seoul, Gyeonggi, Daejeon, and Busan. The collected data were analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis and K-means cluster analysis, as suggested by Hair and Black (2010). The resulting clusters were then further investigated for differences in professional development and empowerment.<br/> The findings are as follows: First, the types of professional and financial support perceived by childcare teachers were categorized into four distinct clusters. Second, significant differences in professional development were observed across these clusters, particularly in the areas of knowledge and skill development, self-understanding, and overall professional growth. Third, notable differences in empowerment were also identified, specifically concerning decision-making, professional growth, and self-determination.<br/> These results indicate that to effectively enhance the professional development and empowerment of childcare teachers, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive approach that simultaneously strengthens both professional and financial support.