ERIC Number: ED646521
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 161
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-8375-4865-9
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Forming Catholic Educators -- The Challenge of New Teacher Induction and Mentoring in Catholic Schools
Ashley Altizer
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Northeastern University
Teacher retention is an ongoing problem in education, especially in small private schools where resources are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate educator perceptions of a new teacher induction and mentoring program to support first-year teachers and improve teacher effectiveness and the retention of new teachers. Cycle 1 participants included Catholic school teachers and administrators. These individuals provided insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the current programs at their schools, as well as ideas for improvement. Action steps were designed, implemented, and evaluated in Cycle 2 to provide supports for new teachers in the 2021-22 academic year and to plan for future new teacher activities. New teachers were provided a web-resource to support their professional growth. They were also offered monthly meetings to engage in professional development and conversation. Additionally, a task force of teachers and administrators was created to develop a comprehensive new teacher induction and mentoring program proposal for the 2022-23 academic year. Evaluating the results of the Action Research study included exit tickets after each monthly meeting, a mid-year survey to first-year teachers, a focus group of first-year teachers, and a focus group of principals. The study concluded that community building is a key factor to any new program; the program needs to be robust and to have a clear structure and appropriate resources; also, buy-in will be critical for new teachers, veteran teachers, and school administrators to participate. Implications for the Archdiocese of Central Texas included a need to implement a robust new teacher induction and mentoring program in 2022-23 that has appropriate resources allocated for its success and a need to provide a clear structure and rationale to get buy in from participants. The study also has implications for all Catholic educators who might consider replicating this study at a larger state or national level to determine how resource sharing and professional development could be provided to support other (arch)dioceses. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Catholic Schools, Catholic Educators, Teacher Persistence, Faculty Mobility, Mentors, Beginning Teacher Induction, Teacher Effectiveness, Program Improvement, Faculty Development, Advisory Committees, Educational Administration, Resource Allocation, State Programs
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A