Open communication and collaborative problem solving. Continuous assessment for teaching and learning. Resources to support organizational change. Currently, more than half of new teacher leave the profession in their first five years. New teachers who participate in induction programs are nearly twice as likely to stay in the profession as those who don't.
Research proves that a critical predictor of student success is teacher quality.
NDEA believes that a mentoring process is a cooperative agreement between peers in which new members of the teaching profession are provided ongoing assistance and support by skilled and experienced teachers. This process should be a collegial in nature, and all experiences should be directed toward the development and refinement of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effective learning. This process is expected to be mutually beneficial for all parties involved and to result in improved instructional practice and professional performance. To facilitate the development of strong, effective induction and mentoring programs, NDEA is researching models and implementation of a statewide process.