Supporting New Teachers at Eastpointe Community Schools
Becoming a teacher is a years-long, often complicated, and even stressful process that can seem daunting and overwhelming. After completing a college education, finishing student teaching, getting certified, applying to positions, and overcoming everything in between, walking into a classroom as an educator for the first time can often leave the novice teacher feeling like Gill and friends in the closing scene of Finding Nemo, wondering, “now what?” This reaction is reasonable because landing in unfamiliar waters is difficult for new teachers, notably so because every school, position, and student is different and requires specific familiarizing to truly thrive as a first-time teacher. Perhaps due to these challenges, teacher turnover has been found to be the highest early in an educator’s career, with some researchers estimating that up to “50% of new teachers leave the [classroom] in the first several years” (IrisCenter). All in all, especially without the guidance of a mentor or experienced teacher, it is easy to feel lost with how to proceed with the new title and environment.
The Office of K-12 Outreach has always been concerned with supporting new educators as part of its mission to help students and teachers prosper. That said, five years ago, K-12 Outreach and its expert facilitators who have been new teachers before, knowing the uncertainty that often comes with this role, specifically teamed up with Eastpointe Community Schools (ECS) to create an opportunity for “rookie” teachers to become familiar with their specific environment, peers, and leaders – the New Teacher Academy. This year, as part of K-12 Outreach’s long-standing collaboration with ECS, this program was continued with the goal of addressing new educators’ questions, comments, and concerns in the ECS context. On Thursday, August 15th, ECS staff gathered with MSU Outreach Specialists for a morning of preparing for the 2024-25 school year. The event was specifically scheduled right on the cusp of summer’s conclusion and the new school year’s start, so the information shared with participants would be fresh over the next few weeks. By focusing on key elements of the profession, reviewing protocols, and developing ties between new colleagues, the educators involved in the New Teacher Academy were readied to walk into their classrooms on the first day of school and dive in.
To kick off the 2024 ECS New Teacher Academy, ECS Superintendent Christina Gibson, Assistant Superintendent Stephanie Fleming, Director of Human Resources Julie Alspach, and Curriculum and Grants Coordinator Lisa Petrella welcomed everyone and overviewed the day’s goals. These ECS administrators were joined by an MSU team, including Outreach Specialists Dr. JoAnn Andrees, Dr. Michael Ferguson, Dr. Jamii Hitchcock, Janet Jones, and Deborah Trapp. Following introductions, the K-12 Outreach facilitators led the ECS participants through a group activity that involved making the longest paper chain possible with limited verbal communication to demonstrate how clear, concise communication is important with colleagues and students. Then, the session moved to building professional relations and fostering a classroom culture of belonging and connection. Participants were encouraged to consider why rapport between teachers and students is important for the learning process. After that, the facilitators moved to classroom routines and procedures, emphasizing that the “why” aspect of classroom customs is important to share with students. This section of the program also revisited classroom management best practices, touching on establishing clear expectations, building positive rapport, outlining classroom routines, using positive reinforcement, and actively engaging students while also discussing common mistakes and what to do instead. Finally, the session covered the first week of school and how to acclimate as a new teacher, along with how to help this year’s students adjust to an unfamiliar classroom. With well wishes for the 2024-25 school year and goodbyes, the ECS New Teacher Academy attendees were dismissed.
Reflecting on the session, co-facilitator Dr. JoAnn Andrees remarked how it is “always an honor to be asked to participate in this session by ECS administrators” and emphasized that “this year’s group…[was] mighty.” The Office of K-12 Outreach acknowledges that becoming a new teacher can seem overwhelming and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the determined staff at Eastpointe Community Schools. Hopefully, as a result of the New Teacher Academy, these novice teachers can take some words of wisdom from Dory in Finding Nemo and “just keep swimming” through their teaching careers. For more information and updates about the Office of K-12 Outreach’s collaboration with Eastpointe Community Schools, interested readers can stay tuned in to future editions of In Focus.
Participants engage in discussion during the ECS New Teacher Academy.