A Cultural Approach to Inducting and Mentoring Beginning Special Education Teachers

Gain insights into a two-year program boosting new Special Education teacher retention and student learning through intensive mentoring and professional development. This session models a cultural, equity-focused approach to mentor forums and professional learning communities, highlighting how mentorship and leadership build a thriving induction and mentoring system.Participants will be able to: 1. Identify key components of a comprehensive Induction and Mentoring (I&M) program that accelerates Special Education teacher effectiveness and improves retention, particularly by addressing the unique needs of diverse demographics and cultures. 2. Implement or adapt culturally relevant engagement strategies, such as the demonstrated opening and closing circles, to create a more inclusive and supportive professional learning environment for all Special Education Mentors and Beginning Teachers. 3. Utilize insights from statewide longitudinal data on Special Education teacher retention and structured planning tools, like the Flow Map of Intentional Use, to reflect upon and strategically enhance their existing I&M programs to ensure consistent growth opportunities and improve teacher persistence.