Three early childhood teacher educators from different institutions engaged in a collaborative self-study to explore the role of empathy in preservice teacher professional development. The two-fold purpose of the study was to: (1) develop and refine their practices to build teacher candidates' empathy in their interactions with children, families, and colleagues; and (2) reclaim accountability in teacher education by examining their practices in complex ways. They postulate that high-stakes testing, technology, and neoliberal education reforms influence their teacher candidates' abilities and willingness to apply empathy in the classroom. A deeper understanding of how teacher candidates understand and apply empathy provides avenues for teacher educators to navigate the tensions in school reform impacted contexts.