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Induction Specialists: The Hub of


      Multi-Layered Mentoring for New



      Teachers




      By Jennifer Sharp, Ed.D., Director of Personnel, Freehold Regional High
      School District


















































      Education has historically           15% to 50% depending on the setting   have taken steps to address this issue
      been a profession that has           studied (Boogren, 2015; Fullan, 2007;   in recent decades through statewide
                                           Ingersoll & Strong, 2011). Perceptions
                                                                                mandates requiring school districts
      experienced a high rate of           of isolation and overall lack of admin-  to provide formalized induction and
      turnover among new staff.            istrative support have been shown to   mentoring programs, with the goals of
                                           correlate with higher new teacher attri-
                                                                                minimizing new teacher turnover and
      While some turnover is to be expected,   tion rates (Boogren, 2015; Ingersoll &   ameliorating the challenges of career
      too much is disruptive to the orga-  Strong, 2011; Smith & Ingersoll, 2004).   transition (Ronfeldt & McQueen, 2017).
      nization and a detriment to student   Specifically, Boogren (2015) asserts   Mentoring has been mandated in
      educational experiences (Boogren,    that without school level support “new   New Jersey since 2003, with recent
      2015; Smith & Ingersoll, 2004). While   teachers can feel isolated and ineffec-  updates to regulations in 2014. Any
      recent research has placed the national  tive and… leave the profession before   new teacher hired today in the Garden
      new teacher five-year attrition rate at   they have a chance to achieve their   State can expect to be enrolled in a
      46%, the rate has also varied between   full potential” (p. 12). Policymakers

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