The shortage of special education teachers is a growing threat to the quality of education received by students with disabilities in the United States. The shortage is exacerbated by high rates of teacher turnover especially among beginning special educators (BSEs) assigned to teach in self-contained classrooms. To promote retention, greater focus…

Teacher retention is a critical problem in public education (Ingersoll, 2002), demanding collaboration between universities and local public school systems. Using veteran teacher mentors employed in a public school system to facilitate ongoing monthly support groups, communities of beginning teachers were formed, embedded within the public schools…