Learn about Induction and Mentoring

Principal Induction and Mentoring

Significant research over the past fifteen years has confirmed that effective school leadership is associated with better outcomes for students, teachers, and schools. In particular, district and school leaders who are strong instructional leaders, aligned with DESE's anti-racist leadership competencies to focus on culturally responsive teaching and curricula, and focused on recruiting, retaining, and supporting teachers of color will benefit all students, especially Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, and multiracial students.

To this end, the Department has developed the following resources to support novice principals and their mentors. These resources are in alignment with the recently updated Guidelines for the Preparation of Administrative Leaders , and fulfill the annual requirements in the Standards for Induction Programs for Administrators (603 CMR 7.13).

Principal Induction and Mentoring Handbook

The Principal Induction and Mentoring Handbook is designed to support all novice principals and their mentors as instructional leaders who serve a diverse range of students with diverse educational needs. Specifically, it is designed to disrupt historical patterns of racial inequity by equipping districts and leaders with the tools, resources, and supports to:

Continually provide educators with the knowledge, strategies, and actions designed to recognize and foster racial equity in instructional practices and one's own leadership practices through the practice and acquisition of the anti-racist leadership competencies,
Effectively manage, support, and retain educator talent within their buildings, including recruiting, retaining, and supporting educators of color, and
Focus on culturally responsive teaching, leading, and curricula that are high quality and evidence-based.

The first two learning modules of the Principal Induction and Mentoring Handbook, which cover one year of mentoring supports, and the accompanying mentor supplement are now available:

Principal Induction and Mentoring Handbook
Mentor Supplement
This mentor supplement is designed to provide guidance, support, and reflective opportunities for mentors as they guide their mentees through the learning modules in the Principal Induction and Mentoring Handbook.

Learning modules 3 and 4, which span the second year of recommended mentoring supports for novice principals, is expected for release in Summer 2022.

2021-22 Principal Induction & Mentoring Professional Learning Network

In the 2021-22 school year, participating districts will partner with DESE to pilot the first two learning modules of the Principal Induction and Mentoring Handbook through this Professional Learning Network. Network participants will collectively explore evidence-based mentoring practices for novice principals, including:

Implementation of the first two learning modules (feasibility and required supports)
Mentor skills and required training/support
Coherence from preparation to in-service
Impact on novice principal efficacy relative to each Standard
Impact on novice principal efficacy relative to anti-racist competencies

Registration for the Professional Learning Network is closed for the 21-22 year.

Questions, comments, and/or suggestions are also welcome at EducatorDevelopment@doe.mass.edu .

Last Updated: April 5, 2022