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How Elementary Principals’ Beliefs and Actions Influence New Teachers’ Experiences

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine (a) ways in which elementary principals in Connecticut influenced the induction experiences of new teachers and (b) how school leaders’ professional backgrounds and beliefs affected their approaches to induction. Research Methods: The study included six elementary principals from three Connecticut districts, and 1st- and 2nd-year teachers, mentors, and other teachers from the principals’ schools. Data collection in 2000-01 involved interviewing principals, beginning teachers, mentors, and other educators; and observing principals’ meetings with new teachers, mentor-mentee meetings, and other induction activities. Findings: The study found that three of the principals strongly promoted new teachers’ instructional growth in their direct interactions with them and by facilitating their work with mentors and grade team members; in contrast, the other three school leaders did not have as much positive impact on new teachers. The article provides evidence that these differences in beginning teachers’ experiences seemed related to variations in the principals’ professional backgrounds; their beliefs and actions regarding leadership, induction, and teacher evaluation; and their responses to district and state policy. Implications: The implications of the study findings are (a) that principals should promote school cultures in which experienced teachers are actively involved in induction; (b) that researchers should examine how school leaders construct their understandings of induction, teacher development, and district and state policy; and (c) that there is a need for quantitative researchers to employ principal leadership as an independent variable that can affect mentor-mentee matches and new teachers’ experiences and retention decisions.