A Strategic Plan: Utilizing Retired Veteran Teachers for a Mentorship Program to Support New Teachers

A Strategic Plan: Utilizing Retired Veteran Teachers for a Mentorship Program to Support New Teachers. Lakeisha Cope, 2024: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: alternative setting, beginning teacher support and assistance, highly qualified, professional development, teacher professional growth and effectiveness system, No Child Left Behind Act This Strategic Research Project was designed to ensure that new teachers have adequate support and training to be successful in the classroom. Professional development provides opportunities for teachers to develop professional growth in the education field. The project begins in a public school system where I serve as a special education teacher. After conducting the strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats analysis, the results indicated problems my organization face within the internal and external environments. It was revealed that teachers were leaving the education field because they did not have adequate support and training. To solve the problem of lack of teacher support and training, four alternative solutions were selected. The quantitative strategic planning matrix was used to evaluate the attractiveness of two alternative strategies when assessed against the forty identified factors from the SWOT analysis. Communication/professional development of veteran teachers received a total attractiveness score of 5.85, and recruitment of veteran teachers scored a total attractiveness score of 5.66. Although communication/professional development received a higher attractiveness score than recruitment of veteran teachers, I selected both strategies for my organization to maximize the chances to be successful. An action plan was developed to ensure that new teachers receive adequate support and training with the assistance of veteran teachers who will serve as support personnel. The plan consist of six goals which includes, (a) creating a team to assist with hiring retired veteran teachers to serve as support personnel (b) selecting of veteran teachers as candidates to hire as support personnel (c) preparing to hire the selected candidates for the position of support personnel for new teachers (d) interviewing new teachers based on the district’s needs (e) matching support personnel with new teachers and (f) designing the mentorship program. Although the literature reviewed supports the claim that veteran teachers serving as support personnel and mentors for new teachers, the literature available was limited. Although there is minimal literature as it relates to the success of mentorship programs, determination can be used based on this platform. Using the data collected from implementing these strategies and action plan can help with deciding on the success of my organization and to determine how the program can further improve the success of my organization.