Teacher induction in North Carolina: relationships to retention

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Lisa Nanette Mitchell (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Barbara Levin

Abstract: Support for beginning teachers in North Carolina is mandated by the State Board of Education and supported through legislative mandates and. Teacher induction programs have been developed to help support and guide new teachers toward a successful career; however each Local Educational Agency (LEA) has the flexibility to establish the induction program in their district, creating a variety of models of induction across the state supporting beginning teachers (BTs). The goal of this research was to better understand the impact of induction programs in North Carolina on beginning teachers' retention. This mixed-methods study examined the current state of induction in 11 of North Carolina's LEAs in order to better understand how varying models of induction impact beginning teachers and to gather the LEAs' and BTs' perspectives about induction. The research questions investigate how the components of induction programs are implemented in North Carolina's LEAs and the perceptions of both the LEAs and BTs about the importance of these components in influencing teacher retention. This study focused on several components of LEA's induction programs (e.g., orientation, mentoring, professional development, and other resources) and explored the impact of these programs by examining the relationships between the components of induction and beginning teacher retention. The study used quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis to document, describe and compare approaches to induction and BT perception about them. The results indicated that a wide variety of induction components are used across the 11 participating North Carolina LEAs, including various types of orientation, mentoring, and professional development. All 11 participating LEAs reported that their induction programs were beneficial in supporting their beginning teachers. However, the 378 participating BTs provided varying reports about their perceptions of the induction components offered in their districts. Overwhelmingly, BTs acknowledged that their mentor and/or resources were the most induction beneficial component.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Induction, Support, Teacher
Subjects
First year teachers $x Training of $z North Carolina.
Teachers $x In-service training.
Teacher orientation.
Mentoring in education.

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