Being a first-year teacher is challenging enough.

Every year, thousands of teachers begin their careers providing the backbone of our educational system. Traditionally, new teachers coming out of university-based certification programs have completed extensive in-school training programs prior to their start. They’ve been exposed to classroom environments and have worked directly with students. In many cases, first-year educators are connected with experienced teacher mentors who provide individualized guidance, counseling, and support.

Over the past year, the challenges have been especially tough.

With COVID-19 impacting school operations at all levels, new teacher induction programs around the country are being “lost” amid the day-to-day pressures of managing the crisis. Being a new teacher is hard enough. Without opportunities for individual mentorship and professional development, many new teachers are even more overwhelmed than they might be in a normal year.

Texas Education START aims to help.

The College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin introduces Texas Education START: Supporting Thriving and Advancing Resiliency in Teaching, a new teacher induction program in collaboration with Austin Independent School District (AISD).

Texas Education START provides new elementary school teachers in AISD with experienced teacher mentors who will assist them in navigating their first year with success. Participants are also given access to virtual Teacher Learning Cohorts (TLC) managed by an experienced Teacher Leader (TL) and supported by a panel of university experts.

Texas Education START puts critical resources, training, and community in the hands of teachers who need it most.