School districts to benefit from program to help retain teachers
A new $604,000 grant aims to combat the high attrition rate among beginning teachers, increase quality teaching and promote professional growth in nine southwest Washington school districts. Approximately 600 teachers in Battle Ground, Camas, Evergreen, Hockinson, Kalama, Ridgefield, Stevenson-Carson, Trout Lake, and Washougal school districts will benefit from the Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) Grant. Educational Service District 112 will administer the grant.
Ingersoll, 2003, reports that 14% of new teachers leave by the end of their first year, 33% leave within three years, and almost 50% leave in five years. An exodus of new teachers from the profession in low-income schools is as much as 50% or higher than affluent schools (Darling-Hammond & Sykes, 2003).
The ESD BEST Program of Support is a comprehensive program which offers differentiated staff development matched to teacher expertise and aligned with state standards.
The program will offer mentoring and professional development training for first, second and third year teachers and for candidates for Professional Certification to increase retention and enhance instructional growth for early career teachers.
Grant goals are:
1. Increase high quality teaching in every classroom
2. Retain competent teachers in the profession
3. Lower teacher turnover rate
4. Promote the personal and professional well-being of the new and beginning teacher
5. Build a foundation for continued professional growth through collaboration
"This is an opportunity to assist novice teachers and enhance the skills of expert teachers while developing a regional model for successful teacher induction," said Barbara Lomas, Director of School Improvement.
ESD 112 is one of five grant recipients from 48 applicants across the state.
Public Information - September 10, 2009