"She's My Partner in Crime": Informal Collaboration and Beginning Special Educator Induction

The shortage of special education teachers is a growing threat to the quality of education received by students with disabilities in the United States. The shortage is exacerbated by high rates of teacher turnover especially among beginning special educators (BSEs) assigned to teach in self-containe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The New educator 2021, Vol.17 (2), p.197-218
Main Authors: Chapman, Lindsey A, Morris, Chelsea T, Cavendish, Wendy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beginning Teacher Induction
Beginning Teachers
Classrooms
Collaboration
Crime
Educational Needs
Faculty Development
Induction
Informal Education
Labor Turnover
Mentors
Problem Solving
Professional development
Proximity
Self Contained Classrooms
Social Support Groups
Special education
Special Education Teachers
Student Needs
Students with Disabilities
Teacher Collaboration
Teacher Shortage
Teachers
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Summary:The shortage of special education teachers is a growing threat to the quality of education received by students with disabilities in the United States. The shortage is exacerbated by high rates of teacher turnover especially among beginning special educators (BSEs) assigned to teach in self-contained classrooms. To promote retention, greater focus is being given to the formal and informal induction experiences of BSEs. This study explored the informal mentoring relationship between one BSE and her mid-career colleague. The study's findings illustrate how these teachers initiated an informal collaboration that provided the reciprocal professional and personal support needed that was not provided by traditional professional development opportunities.
ISSN:1547-688X
1549-9243
DOI:10.1080/1547688X.2021.1904070