Good Teacher Mentoring Programs Lead to Successful Student Outcomes

At a Capitol Hill briefing on December 15, 2010, four teachers shared their experiences and the benefits that come from having good teacher mentoring programs for successful student outcomes. Sponsored by the New Teacher Center and the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center, the briefing included two teachers featured in Teachers Are the Center of Education: Mentoring, Teaching and Improving Student Learning, a report released by the two organizations and Phi Delta Kappa International (PDKI).

According to a recent study from the National Education Association, nearly 50 percent of teachers leave the profession after only five years of teaching. The support and professional development that teachers receive in the first two years play a key role in accelerating their effectiveness and improving student learning. It is vital to support them with high-quality, comprehensive mentoring programs.

Teachers Are the Center of Education: Mentoring, Teaching and Improving Student Learning is the fourth in an ongoing series of reports on the role of teachers in the U.S. education system. A collaborative effort of the College Board, the New Teacher Center and PDKI, the report looks at nine teachers who have who have taken time from their classroom practice to contribute their knowledge and experience to their new colleagues. The report serves to provide educators, administrators and policymakers with a unique view into the long-term benefits of mentoring programs.

Download a copy of Teachers Are the Center of Education: Mentoring, Teaching and Improving Student Learning.