Preparing good teachers and keeping them in the classroom is the goal of a University of Cincinnati partnership with a Cincinnati-area school district. The partnership between UC and the West Clermont Local School District was one of 12 such programs nationally to be selected for an 18-month collaboration with the New Teacher Center at the University of California Santa Cruz. The project will receive Carnegie Foundation funding to support and improve the development of new teachers by creating stronger mentors in K-12 schools. Part of the plan is to reduce teacher turnover, which can be costly for students as well as school systems. "If schools are forced to rehire for the same position over and over again, they’re losing the skill that a teacher develops," says Angie Ferguson, director of the West Clermont Schools Teacher Induction Program.
National research shows the turnover is highest among new teachers entering the profession, with the most turnover occurring in urban schools, UC says. One way to keep good teachers in the classroom is to offer new teachers guidance and support through a mentor.
Writer: David Holthaus
Source: Dawn Fuller, University of Cincinnati
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.