Enhancing Effectiveness and Connectedness among Early Career Teachers in Urban Schools

Early career teachers working in low-income communities experience teacher attrition rates of nearly 50%. Two of the strongest predictors of attrition are teachers' classroom management skills and their ability to engage students in learning. In this study, the researchers will develop, refine, and test the feasibility of a professional development (PD) model for early career teachers working in poor urban communities. The PD model will target teachers' classroom management skills and ability to engage students (for the purpose of this study, called teachers' effectiveness) as well as teachers' relationships with colleagues and connection to the school (called teachers' connectedness). The PD model involves pairing early career teachers with peer-nominated teacher mentors and coaches (retired veteran teachers) to provide knowledge dissemination and intensive classroom support in classroom management and motivating learners. The PD model also includes a professional learning community component designed to promote early career teachers' connectedness to colleagues. The researchers hypothesize that developing teachers' classroom effectiveness and connectedness to colleagues will promote positive academic and behavioral outcomes for students.