The Impact of Mentoring on Teacher Retention

An effective mentor can make teaching more pleasant for novice educators.

While many enthusiastic students graduate from education programs each year, schools continue to struggle to keep these teachers from leaving the profession only a few short years later. Mentoring programs can encourage new teachers to persevere.

Significance

Beginning a teaching career can be overwhelming. No amount of prior instruction can completely prepare an educator for the experience of standing before her own classroom. According to a report issued by the National Center for Education Statistics, a staggering 20 percent of new teachers leave the profession within their first three years of service. However, there are ways to encourage these novices to remain in their chosen profession. According to research performed by the National Education Association, new teachers who participate in a mentoring program are nearly twice as likely to continue teaching after their first three years.

Benefits

Teacher mentoring programs provide many benefits for educators. A fellow educator who can be turned to for support creates a sense of collegiality in the workplace, which is motivational. Assistance with navigating administrative logistics can reduce a teacher's stress level. Most important, an experienced eye can help a new teacher improve her craft via informal observations and subsequent discussions.

Warning

Sometimes, a specific mentor may be an inappropriate match for a given teacher due to conflicts in personality or philosophy. In such an instance, it may be beneficial for the teacher to request a different mentor or seek an additional mentor who can fill in the gaps in the existing relationship.

References

• Attrition of New Teachers Among Recent College Graduates
• National Teachers Association: Must Reads, Teacher Retention
• The Impact of Mentoring on Teacher Retention

Resources

• Teacher Mentoring Resources