Realising potential and recognising paradox: The national induction and mentoring project

Authors

  • Frances Langdon University of Auckland image/svg+xml
  • Peter Lind New Zealand Teachers Council
  • Cynthia Shaw New Zealand Teachers Council
  • Erin Pilcher New Zealand Teachers Council

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26686/nzaroe.v0i19.1558

Keywords:

Teachers and Teaching

Abstract

Although comprehensive policy and resourcing of beginning teacher induction and mentoring can improve teacher retention and quality, there is growing recognition that combining on-site leadership and policy is integral to providing effective learning for teachers. This has led to an increased interest in melding policy and resources with school and service leadership to promote consistency of beginning teachers’ induction and mentoring experiences. This article describes and provides insights into a project involving four pilots which are trialling the draft national guidelines for effective induction programmes and mentor teacher development. An external evaluation across the four pilots has revealed that national guidelines can be a positive lever for effecting change in induction and mentoring practices. Implementing such change nationally will require leaders to take seriously an educative, transformative approach to learning for both beginning teachers and their mentors.

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Author Biographies

Frances Langdon, University of Auckland

Frances Langdon is Head of School, Teaching Learning and Development at the University of Auckland. Her research focuses on teacher learning and development, particularly early career learning, induction, and mentoring. She is the principal investigator of the primary/intermediate induction and mentoring pilot.

Peter Lind, New Zealand Teachers Council

Peter Lind is Director of the New Zealand Teachers Council and formerly Director of Teacher Education at Massey University

Cynthia Shaw, New Zealand Teachers Council

Cynthia Shaw is Manager, Policy and Strategic Development at the New Zealand Teachers Council and formerly a teacher and senior manager involved in the secondary education sector.

Erin Pilcher, New Zealand Teachers Council

Erin Pilcher is a Researcher working in the Policy and Strategic Development team at the New Zealand Teachers Council.

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Published

2009-07-01