A Phenomenology of the Lived Experiences of Novice Secondary Teachers Who Have Completed

153 Pages·2017·0.94 MB·English

Utah State University
NEW BEGINNINGS: A PHENOMENOLOGY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF
NOVICE SECONDARY TEACHERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE
INDUCTION AND MENTORSHIP REQUIREMENTS OF UTAH’S
EARLY YEARS ENHANCEMENT (EYE) PROGRAM
by
Philip D. Armstrong

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree

of

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
in
Education
(Curriculum and Instruction)

Approved:

_ _
Dr. Gary Carlston Dr. Martha Dever
Major Profesor Commite Member

_ _
Dr. J. Nicholls Eastmond Dr. Michael Freeman
Comite Member Comite Member

_ _
Dr. Steve Laing Dr. Byron R. Burnham
Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Logan, Utah

2009
ii

Copyright © Philip D. Armstrong 2009

All Rights Reserved
iii

ABSTRACT

New Beginnings: A Phenomenology of the Lived Experiences of Novice Secondary
Teachers Who Have Completed the Induction and Mentorship Requirements
of Utah’s Early Years Enhancement (EYE) Program

by

Philip D. Armstrong, Doctorate of Education
Utah State University, 2009

Major Professor: Dr. Gary Carlston
Department: Emma Eccles Jones School of Teacher Education and Leadership

It is estimated the national teacher shortage will be approximately two million by
the year 2010. Thirty to 50% of new teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years.
In an effort to improve teacher quality and retain teachers, many states and local school
districts have instituted induction and mentoring programs. The state of Utah’s Early
Years Enhancement (EYE) induction and mentoring program went into effect January 1,
2003. This purpose of this study was to examine how secondary novice teachers
experience the mentorship requirement of the EYE program. A phenomenological
approach was used to illustrate the lived experience of 19 Utah teachers who completed
the mentorship and all other requirements of the EYE program in order to earn their
Level 2 License and continue on in the profession.
Some of the themes that emerged from the participant interviews are congruent
iv

with the literature in terms of the benefits of a mentorship. A majority of participants
reported their mentorship was beneficial because their mentor was a source of advice and
information; their mentor was a confidant who also inspired confidence; and they got
along with their mentor. Included in the study are unanticipated perceptions regarding the
portfolio and the Praxis II requirements of the EYE program, giving a more holistic
picture of what participants experienced during the mentor and induction process.
(152 pages)
v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to thank Dr. Gary Carlston, the chair of my doctoral committee. I was
lucky to have him assigned as my advisor when I began this journey and fortunate he
agreed to continue as my committee chair. I am grateful for his mentorship and, more
importantly, his friendship.
I want to thank my committee members, Dr. Martha Dever, Dr. Nick Eastmond,
Dr. Mike Freeman, and Dr. Steve Laing, for their support and advice. Special thanks to
Dr. Dever for helping me find the right method and to Dr. Deborah Byrnes for being
vested in my success.
I want to thank those who were willing to share their stories to which this
dissertation gives voice. I want to thank all others on whom I called for help during this
journey.
I want to thank my parents, Howard and Marilyn Armstrong, for their never-
ending support and encouragement.
This work is dedicated to my wife, Paula, and our children. I am so grateful for
your love, patience, and sacrifice during this journey. Paula, I am especially grateful for
your goodness, which inspires me to be better than I am and to excel in all I do.
Philip D. Armstrong
vi

CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................. v

LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... viii

DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION . 1

Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................... 2
Utah’s EYE Program ...................................................................................... 3

II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ................................................................ 6

History and Definition . 6
Attrition, Retention, and Mentoring ................................................................ 8
Why Teachers Leave ....................................................................................... 11
Standards . 14
Utah’s EYE Program and Utah Professional Teacher Standards ................... 20
Characteristics and Elements of an Effective Mentorship .............................. 22
Summary of the Literature .............................................................................. 25

III. METHODOLOGY . 28

Phenomenology. 28
Interview Design . 29
Participants . 30
Entry and Reciprocity ..................................................................................... 34
Data Colection . 34
Data Analysis . 36
Verification and Validity . 37
Delimitations . 39
Limitations . 40
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Page

IV. PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR STORIES ..................................................... 41

The Participants . 42
Teaching and Mentoring Timeline .................................................................. 57

V. FINDINGS . 59

General Themes on the Benefits of the Mentorship Experience .................... 59
Summary . 77

VI. PARTICIPANT PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE EYE PROGRAM .............. 80

Relevant Literature . 81
Data Analysis . 83
Summary . 99

VII. RESEARCH BENEFITS ................................................................................ 102

Mentorship Themes . 103
EYE Program Perceptions .............................................................................. 106
Conclusion . 109
Recommendations for Further Research ......................................................... 110

REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 111

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................... 118

Appendix A: Danielson’s Components Linked to INTASC ........................ 119
Appendix B: Utah Professional Teacher Standards (UPTS) ........................ 122
Appendix C: Sample Questions Document .................................................. 124
Appendix D: Letter of Invitation .................................................................. 126
Appendix E: Email Follow-Up .................................................................... 128
Apendix F: Informed Consent. 130
Appendix G: Bracketing Interview ............................................................... 133
Appendix H: Peer Colleague Verification .................................................... 139

CURRICULUM VITAE ................................................................................................ 141
viii

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1. Summary of Participants .................................................................................... 58

A-1. Correlation of the INTASC Standards with the Framework for Teaching
Components . 120
ix

DEFINITIONS

Attrition: Term used to describe the reduction or decrease of public
teachers.

Cohort: A group of persons sharing a particular statistical or
demographic characteristic.

Educator: Public school teacher.

Experienced teacher: A teacher who has taught successfully in a public school
for at least 3 years (synonymous with veteran teacher).

Highly Qualified: The “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) reauthorization of the
federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act requires
public educators to be “highly qualified” meaning, they
have an academic major or coursework equivalent to a
major in each subject taught, or they have passed a state
content test in each subject taught (Educator Quality &
Licensing, n.d.).

Induction: Various programs and activities used to help new teachers
be successful teachers.

Level 1 License: Utah professional educator license issued upon completion
of an approved preparation program or an alternative
preparation program (R277-522).

Level 2 License: Utah professional educator license issued after satisfaction
of all requirements for a Level 1 License (including 3 years
of successful education experience within a 5-year period
(R277-522).

Mentee: A new teachers who is guided by a mentor.
Mentor: An experienced teacher who held a new teacher transition
to an experienced teacher.

Novice teacher: A first year, new, or beginning teacher.
Retention: Continued employment of public school teachers.