Support for Beginning Teachers: An Invitation to Participate in a Collaborative Induction Process

Abstract

There is certainly no diminution of interest in teacher induction in the province of Ontario, Canada. Education Minister Gerard Kennedy has launched a concerted effort to implement the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP) consisting of contextually relevant professional development opportunities for beginning teachers, an experienced teacher to serve as mentor, and school and district orientation sessions. The Minister has also proposed legislation that will streamline beginning teacher evaluation and formally credit participants for their successful completion of the program to be recorded on the Certificate of Qualification issued by the Ontario College of Teachers. The recently released NTI P Program Guideline (March, 2006) states that induction programs "will build on the faculty year experience by providing another full year of professional support” through the partnership among beginning teachers, mentors, principals, superintendents of the NTIP" etc. (pp. 3 & 4). The above measures underpin the Ministry’s initiatives to work collaboratively with education stakeholders and operationalize more pragmatic and efficient professional development initiatives to improve teacher induction practices in order to improve student learning .