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Mentor Program
Durham Public Schools is committed to offering our staff members the best possible support and encouragement. One of the ways we do this is through our mentoring program. In this program, new teachers are paired with veteran teachers who serve full time as mentors for teachers in their 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of teaching.
Durham Public Schools is committed to offering our staff members the best possible support and encouragement. One of the ways we do this is through our mentoring program. In this program, new teachers are paired with veteran teachers who serve full time as mentors for teachers in their 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of teaching.
This program is the result of a deep partnership with the New Teacher Center of the University of California at Santa Cruz. Funded from grants by Duke University and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and local, state and federal funds, 35 full time mentors work daily to support the instructional growth of the over 600 beginning teachers in the district. The mentor support is confidential and non-evaluative.
Since the initiation of this program, DPS has seen dramatic positive results. These include:
- A 50% reduction in beginning teacher turnover rate
- Surveys of beginning teachers that report consistent levels of high satisfaction with the support received from their mentor, particularly in the areas of grade level and content knowledge, and emotional support
- Recognition of Durham Public Schools as a state leader in beginning teacher induction
Obviously, new teachers are cared for and valued at DPS. With a drastically lower turnover rate, increased emotional and professional support, and improving student performances, it is no surprise that teachers from all over the nation choose Durham Public Schools.
