The challenges first-year urban teachers face today are challenging while at the same time promising. It is challenging because there are concerns around training and development and readiness with an emphasis on classroom management. There is also hope and promise; it can be argued that the profession has more tools, resources, and access to professional development than in past times. Urban teachers work under stressful conditions. As the research will show, turnover in these communities is higher than in others, i.e., suburban and rural. They are expected to be involved in the community and, to a degree, students' lives. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of first-year urban teachers, focusing on how teacher preparation programs and school support systems influence their teaching practices and classroom management. Through a focus group, one-on-one interviews, and open-ended surveys, insights were gathered from 16 first-year urban teachers for the purpose of understanding their perceptions related to teacher preparation and support. Key themes that emerged are: Effectiveness of Teacher Preparation Programs, Quality of School Support Systems, Challenges Faced by First-year Teachers, and Recommendations for Improvement. This research supports the alternative hypothesis (H1): Teacher preparation programs and school support systems significantly impact the performance of first-year urban teachers. While some teachers felt "thrown to the wolves," others highlighted the positive impact of their preparation program, mentorship, and strong relationships with administrators and veteran teachers. The findings reveal the critical role of targeted, practical training in teacher preparation programs and the need for ongoing support from school leadership to foster teacher confidence and effectiveness. [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.]