Joshua Barnett, CEO of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) and author of Unleashing Teacher Leadership (ASCD, 2024), shares five key ways leaders can support new teachers, based on NIET research:
1. Increase feedback and reduce isolation.
2. Create opportunities to collaborate, grow, and improve. A supportive environment to improve practice is essential for teacher retention and student success.
3. Define strong instructional practices clearly—and coach teachers in those practices with the content they are using in their classrooms. This is especially important for new teachers who are still developing their understanding of high-quality instructional practices and materials.
4. Create pathways to leadership. Many teachers, including new teachers, are interested in having an opportunity to take on leadership roles and responsibilities as they progress in their career.
5. Recognize and celebrate progress intentionally and regularly. Teachers too rarely receive recognition for the work they do to support student learning growth, particularly if students are still working toward but have not yet achieved proficiency.
Adapted from Barnett, J. (2023, August 24). Supporting new teachers—Five ways to invest now. [Blog post]. https://www.niet.org/newsroom/show/blog/supporting-new-teachers-five-ways-to-invest-now.
