Mentoring Partnerships

Special education is an incredibly high need teacher shortage area, and mentoring can make a profound difference in teacher retention and effectiveness. This handbook provides practical resources, guidance, and strategies to support new special education teachers through their first year of teaching. Special education across education programs nationwide is an incredibly high-need teacher shortage area, and mentoring can make a profound difference in teacher retention and effectiveness. Within this handbook, mentoring partnerships will be guided through the first year of a new special education teacher from start to finish. A month-to-month resource for both mentors and mentees, this resource focuses on self-reflection cycles of growth and goal-setting, including self-care strategies. Additionally, the handbook focuses on evidence-based practices in special education tying resources to the High Leverage Teaching Practices (Council for Exceptional Children) providing templates to be adapted to local school districts for K-12 special education program use. The framework of this handbook is to provide evidence-based practices to promote inclusive special education programs where all K-12 students have equity, access, and achievement. New and experienced special education teachers will learn how to effectively promote and integrate inclusive special education programs, emphasizing that special education is not a “place” but instead a “service” comprised of intensive support, collaboration, and accessibility.