New Teacher Support: How One Massachusetts School District Facilitates and Sustains Teacher Growth

• Main Authors: McManus, Philip Brian, Imel, Telena S., Palmer, Maryanne, Panarese, Christine
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Boston College 2014
• Subjects: Education; Feedback; Leadership; Mentoring; Reflection
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2345/3835

Thesis advisor: Lauri Johnson === This qualitative case study examined the structures and conditions in one Massachusetts school district that supported new teachers. Data was gathered from semi-structured interviews with teachers and administrators, artifact analyses and participant observations of district meetings. While the existing literature on new teacher support focuses on mentoring as the primary means of induction, study results indicated that the district supported new teachers through building a collaborative atmosphere where new teachers regularly meet with veteran teachers in their subject area and grade level; weekly meetings with mentor coordinators; and strong principal support. However, new teachers were not formally assigned a mentor, which can leave them without a primary support person. Recommendations are made to formalize the mentoring program, to provide a mentor coordinator for each building, and to involve principals more formally in the induction program. === Thesis (EdD) — Boston College, 2014. === Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. === Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.