Welcoming new teachers to a school is a crucial step in ensuring their success and satisfaction. Whether they are fresh out of college or joining your team from another school or district, the transition can be both exciting and overwhelming. As school leaders, it’s our responsibility to create a school culture rooted in support and a sense of belonging.
How do you do that? I wanted to provide a few strategies that you can use to welcome new teachers and easily integrate them into your school community.
Putting them at ease
A new teacher may be moving into a school as a veteran or as a brand-new teacher. Learning new processes and a new school culture can be extremely intimidating and daunting. When possible, it is excellent to have a series of relaxed meetings throughout the summer prior to school – even leveraging technology to host these meetings online. That way, school leadership can lay a solid foundation and removing cause the greatest anxiety in teachers, such as who to reach out to for certain questions and what the first days will look like. That time is also well served getting to know the new teachers and building a strong relationship before school starts.
Provide a Comprehensive Orientation
A complete orientation and onboarding process is essential to set up new teachers for success. While administrative details are important, focusing on the school’s culture, values, and community is equally crucial. A comprehensive orientation program including the school’s mission, student demographics, and any unique attributes. The orientation should be separate from the school’s regular back-to-school in order to take care of the new staff’s needs before presenting them with more information that the whole staff will get. Making this unique and special can help ease their concerns.
Assign a Mentor
Assigning a mentor to new teachers can be invaluable – especially for those just starting their career. If possible, you should structure your mentor relationships this way: (1) brand new teachers should have that mentor relationship for two school years and (2) new teachers to the school have that mentor for one year. A mentor should be someone experienced who can offer guidance, answer questions, and provide emotional support. Ideally, the mentor should be a friendly and approachable colleague who understands the challenges of adapting to a new environment. Regular check-ins with the mentor can help new teachers navigate their first year with more confidence. If that mentor needs ideas, Stride PD has a Check-in Template that shares valuable ideas for questions that can be explored during those sessions. In creating these relationships, make sure to provide training to those mentors and informally reach out to them to see how you can offer additional support.
Create a Systematic Support System
In addition to assigning new teachers, be mindful of where you place new teachers into the school community. One area of focus should be the professional learning community you place them with. Choosing a PLC that will not only welcome them, but also help them grow and push them to succeed in these crucial years of their development. Peer support can also be extended by placement with a buddy. The buddy can be someone the new teacher could have quick access to and be less formal support than from a mentor. This peer support can be instrumental in helping new teachers feel connected and informed about the school’s informal norms and social dynamics.
Facilitate Classroom Preparation
Starting a new teaching position often means setting up a new classroom, which can be an overwhelming task. Aid new teachers by providing resources, such as decorating materials, cleaning supplies, and information where they can find things. Most importantly, give the new teacher time to create their space. Yes, this means cutting back some of the mandatory PD to give them that time during the workday. One way to protect that time is to offer some on-demand learning opportunities. This time and support can ease the teachers’ stress of this job duty and make them feel more prepared and confident for the first day of class.
Encourage Open Communication
Establishing open lines of communication will be key for a new teacher’s success. Provide informal opportunities to ask questions and build rapport. Also provide formal lines of communication, but make sure the new teachers understand that process. Regular and frequent check-ins are invaluable and will allow others to see if the new teacher needs support. Creating an environment where feedback is constructive and communication is encouraged will help new teachers feel valued and understood.
By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we not only help new teachers thrive but also strengthen the overall school community. Investing in their smooth transition benefits everyone, ensuring a positive and productive atmosphere for both teachers and students alike.