New Educator Support and Training: Establishing an Ongoing System of Support

Early-career educators, like any precious resource, should be nurtured and given multiple layers of support. One way that schools and school districts can deliberately provide support to early-career educators is by ensuring that they have an ongoing teacher-induction program that provides information not only regarding district policies and procedures but also about valuable strategies and tools to help teachers experience success within their classrooms. However, one of the most valuable resources that can be provided to early-career educators is other educators. Through a teacher-induction program, members of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG) can provide additional layers of support for teachers who are new to their classrooms. Members can work with their local school districts to develop successful teacher-induction programs that make a lasting impact for early-career educators. This article describes the New Educator Support and Training (NEST) program of the Catahoula Parish School District in Louisiana, in which a small, rural school district is teaming with DKG, as well as other partners, to ensure that its early-career educators have the support they need to be successful.