Abington’s mentoring program aims to reduce first-year teacher turnover

ABINGTON, Pa. – Research from Penn State University’s Center for Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis has found that the highest teacher turnover rates in the Philadelphia region were among those with the least experience. Retaining junior teachers is an important strategy for improving teacher effectiveness and ultimately student outcomes. That’s why Penn State Abington faculty created the Teacher Education Mentoring Program (TEMP) to help new graduates launch their careers in the classroom.

“This program is important because it sets our graduating teachers apart from the competition because they have a Penn State-supported mentor,” said Teri Dodaro, assistant professor and field coordinator in the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Program (EECE). in Abington. “The research is really clear about the attrition rate of first-year teachers without support. “Programs like ours are necessary to keep teachers in the classroom.”

Dodaro and Boni Wozolek, associate professor at EECE, pair new Abington graduates with retired educators whose experience reflects the demographics of the school where the new teacher will be assigned. Alumni who work in schools and districts where the majority of the minority population live are given preference in games.

The approach is structured to ensure that the most challenging topics for first-year teachers, such as parent-teacher conferences and principal observations, are covered. They will meet via Zoom twice a month for the first half of the academic year, reducing to once a month after January 1st.

Mentors provide resources and advice and in return receive a modest stipend that the new teachers must use to set up their classrooms, an often unexpected cost borne by the teachers.

The program has been so successful in its first two years that administrators at several schools have agreed to include Abington students in at least the first round of interviews for open positions in the hope that the students will be selected to support TEMP.

Before Denise Fischer retired a few years ago, she supervised more than two dozen student teachers and young teachers. She said it was important to her to support them through TEMP.

“I will never forget my first open day as a teacher. My knees almost gave way. Likewise, my mentee was concerned about her initial observation by the principal. We spent a lot of time reviewing their plans and making contingencies. She was prepared and our mentoring really worked that day,” said Fischer.

“I think she felt like she could tell me things without being judged. I’m not in this building. I’m just there for her. We have a connection and we don’t have to worry about the political things that might happen within the school,” she continued.

Fischer praised Dodaro for motivating and encouraging the mentors.

“I never felt like she was asking too much. She saw us as a key to helping and gave us an incredible amount of reading material to keep us up to date with teaching post-pandemic. Teri was always there to answer questions,” Fischer said.

The idea for TEMP arose from the experiences of one of Dodaro’s “star students” while teaching at another university

“This young woman received the Student Teaching Award as an undergraduate, but resigned in December of her freshman year. Her school district mentor was assigned to nine other teachers and was often unavailable. My student had questions and concerns about politics and other issues, but she drowned and gave up,” she said.

Upset, Dodaro went to Wozolek, and they decided to develop a plan to mentor first-year Abington graduates who teach in urban centers.

“We are in a national crisis and we need to start redefining what education looks like here in Abington. “We train students well and provide a mentor for the first year,” Dodaro said. “No matter where you go, it is difficult, but our mission in our education program is to support our urban centers, which are the least funded schools in the region.”

About Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and impactful education that leads to the success of a diverse student body. She is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st century public higher education at a premier research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers bachelor’s degrees in 25 majors, accelerated master’s degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.