Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Donald D. Gainey
Committee Member
William Thayer
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
foreign language departments, master teachers, mentoring, New York, novice teachers, probationary teachers, secondary schools, staff development, teacher induction, teacher observation, teacher retention, teacher supervision, teacher training, teacher turnover, tenure, veteran teachers
Abstract
This applied dissertation focused on the factors that contributed to a persistent teacher retention problem within the foreign language department in a secondary school located in a suburb adjacent to the city of New York. The writer delved into the causes of the problem and instituted a plan for ameliorating the turnover rate or eradicating the problem.
The writer instituted a staff development program consisting of several components: from teacher induction where the expectations were clarified to teacher observation where the process was more of a collaborative enterprise for the improvement of the novice than an inspectorial visit geared toward catching the teacher in the act of performing below standards.
Mentoring was an essential component that revitalized the veteran teachers as they passed on their expert skills to the novice members of the department. This enterprise made the department more cohesive and validated the experience of the master teachers while facilitating the positive inclusion of new teachers.
This applied dissertation had a positive impact on the problem, which was manifested by a 0% rate of turnover by the end of the implementation phase of the project and the granting of tenure to the 2 probationary teachers.