Meet the Teachers
by Camille Hedrick, Potomac Falls High School
Original text © 2004 Camille Hedrick
Mentoring
The influx of mentoring programs in school divisions reflects the profession’s recognition that an effective mentor program increases teacher retention. In his proposed 2003-2004 budget, Dr. Jerry Hill, Superintendent of Spotsylvania County Schools, cited that division’s model mentor program as a cost saving initiative. Darling-Hammond (2001) states that “beginning teachers who have access to intensive mentoring by expert colleagues are much less likely to leave teaching in the early years” (p. 17). Resta et al. (2001), Lineham (2000), McCrieght (2000) and Ruckel (2000) all indicate that school divisions should invest strongly in the mentoring of new teachers, because good mentor programs retain teachers.
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