Abstract
Retaining effective teachers is a challenge in every classroom, but nowhere more than in
special education classrooms. The purpose of the study was to conduct a program
evaluation using archival data that were collected as a part of the Special Education
Advanced Mentor Training (SEAMT) in South Carolina. Drawing on Erikson’s Intimacy
vs. Isolation stage of human life, educators have realized that beginning teachers benefit
from the sense of intimacy provided by a mentor. To combat the issue of special
education teacher attrition, a 1-day SEAMT was developed and presented but never
evaluated. The research questions were developed to determine if the SEAMT affected
the work of mentors; which aspects of the training were most helpful; and which
additional information, tools, and/or strategies would be helpful in working with special
education teachers. The program evaluation utilized a sequential mixed methods
approach while triangulating the data from 3 sources: 2 surveys and 1 interview. The
qualitative data were coded using an inductive process, while the quantitative data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics. The evaluation results for the SEAMT showed that
for all participants, the training either met or exceeded their expectations. Once mentors
worked with new special education teachers in the field, they found several tools to be
helpful. The interviews revealed that more training for administrators is needed to
enhance their knowledge of special education. This program evaluation concludes with
recommendations to support and retain special educators in the classroom, which will
effect positive social change through increased student achievement.
AbstractRetaining effective teachers is a challenge in every classroom, but nowhere more than inspecial education classrooms. The purpose of the study was to conduct a programevaluation using archival data that were collected as a part of the Special EducationAdvanced Mentor Training (SEAMT) in South Carolina. Drawing on Erikson’s Intimacyvs. Isolation stage of human life, educators have realized that beginning teachers benefitfrom the sense of intimacy provided by a mentor. To combat the issue of specialeducation teacher attrition, a 1-day SEAMT was developed and presented but neverevaluated. The research questions were developed to determine if the SEAMT affectedthe work of mentors; which aspects of the training were most helpful; and whichadditional information, tools, and/or strategies would be helpful in working with specialeducation teachers. The program evaluation utilized a sequential mixed methodsapproach while triangulating the data from 3 sources: 2 surveys and 1 interview. Thequalitative data were coded using an inductive process, while the quantitative data wereanalyzed using descriptive statistics. The evaluation results for the SEAMT showed thatfor all participants, the training either met or exceeded their expectations. Once mentorsworked with new special education teachers in the field, they found several tools to behelpful. The interviews revealed that more training for administrators is needed toenhance their knowledge of special education. This program evaluation concludes withrecommendations to support and retain special educators in the classroom, which willeffect positive social change through increased student achievement.
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