What role does mentoring play in supporting new teachers?
Traditionally in this country, the first-year teacher is put in a situation that is very similar to someone who has taught for twenty-five years, is expected to do the same job, has the same number of students, has the same number of classes — oftentimes has the more difficult students or the more difficult classes. From my perspective, that’s a terrible way to build a profession. What we need to do is create situations where new teachers perhaps have fewer classes to teach, and in those other times can be working with their mentor, can be observing other classes, can be co-teaching with other teachers — those kinds of things that will enhance that person’s skill early on. And this has to be more than a one-year program.
