Maximizing the Impact of New Teacher Mentorship
September 9, 2021
As part of the release of a new policy paper, NIET hosted a discussion with leaders and educators from across the country about how to better support new teachers through mentorship programs. High-quality mentoring programs have been shown to increase teacher retention and effectiveness, and new teacher surveys rank mentoring as the most helpful type of support. While this response is a positive development, the quality and impact of these programs varies widely, with many programs operating as little more than a "buddy system."
NIET has studied what works and on today's panel highlighted how mentoring can be strengthened and improved to address key challenges educators face so that mentors and mentees benefit from these programs. Panelists also shared their experience and perspective on the importance of mentoring and how it can be strengthened to better support new teachers in the coming year.
Participants include:
- Moderator: Laura Encalade, Co-President of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
- Shawn Hayes, Director of Teacher Development at Jefferson Parish Schools, Louisiana
- Mari Hinojosa-Barrera, First Grade Teacher and Mentor, Alice ISD, Texas
- Thomas Smith, Professor of Education and Public Policy at University of California, Riverside.
- Kate Walsh, President at the National Council on Teacher Quality
- Ruth Ye, Teacher Mentorship & Leadership Specialist at the Texas Education Agency
Click here to access a copy of NIET's paper, along with guest analyses.
