ERIC Number: EJ1447682
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-7107
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1611
Community of Practice Mentoring to Retain Middle School Teachers
Karen Weller Swanson; Micki M. Caskey
Current Issues in Middle Level Education, v28 n1 Article 4 2024
The purpose of this article is to describe and explain a mentoring initiative for supporting and retaining middle school teachers. First, we examine the persistent problem of teacher retention in U.S. schools, particularly in middle schools. Then, we describe a mentoring initiative--a community practice mentoring model that is well-suited for facilitating professional learning and addressing the retention issue. We define community of practice and note how communities of practices work in schools. We argue that a community of practice model is both a powerful conceptual framework for mentoring teachers and a practical approach to supporting middle school teachers' practice. Next, we report on middle school conditions including organizational structures, effective professional learning, and the multigenerational nature of the teaching force. Subsequently, we focus on the key features of a community that enhances teachers' professional learning, reduces teacher isolation, and influences teacher retention. We end with our recommendations and a few concluding remarks about the importance of good talk and setting the conditions for teacher optimism.
Descriptors: Communities of Practice, Mentors, Teacher Persistence, Middle School Teachers, Educational Environment, Organizational Climate, Faculty Development, Intergenerational Programs
National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education. Web site: https://www.napomle.com/cimle; Web site: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cimle/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A