Supporting Beginning Teachers
NTSP provides comprehensive support to new teachers over their first three years in the profession, bridging Virginia Commonwealth University's pre-service education program and Richmond Public Schools (RPS). The program pairs VCU School of Education alumni with experienced mentors who offer personalized guidance, classroom observations, and feedback sessions to help new teachers refine their practice.
Our vision is to support those teachers through their first three years, providing the supportive community and tools necessary to remain in the teaching profession and reduce the teacher shortage.
NTSP organizes monthly cohort meetings where teachers share experiences, problem-solve, and build community. Professional learning opportunities focus on effective instruction, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development. The program also offers classroom grants for innovative projects and resources.
NTSP's support extends beyond traditional mentoring, emphasizing placing students' lives, voices, communities, and cultural backgrounds at the center of pedagogy. This approach aims to develop culturally responsive teaching practices and strategies to meet diverse student needs. By fostering agency and empowering new teachers to become change-makers, NTSP builds professional identity and commitment to the profession, ultimately working towards improved teacher retention and student outcomes.
Key Aspects of the Program
VCU alumni who accept teaching positions in partner schools receive three years of mentoring and coaching to help them transition from teacher candidates to teacher-leaders.
NTSP supports new teachers in delivering effective instruction to students through coaching and just-in-time support in areas like behavior management, supporting diverse learners, and student engagement.
The program provides targeted professional support for new teachers to meet the diverse needs of students and their communities, including strategies to close learning gaps for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
NTSP works to develop a sense of hope and agency among new teachers, building their professional identity and commitment to the profession.
The program cultivates a vibrant learning community that brings together novice teachers, mentors, teacher educators, school leaders, and program partners.
NTSP serves as a bridge between the university and district, helping new teachers apply educational theories to classroom teaching and fostering cross-system learning.
The program is committed to refining and innovating its model based on research and the unique needs of the communities it serves.
Program Components
- Recruitment of eligible VCU School of Education graduates
- Mentoring from experienced educators
- Monthly cohort meetings for reflection and professional development
- Classroom grants for innovative projects
- Observation cycles for targeted feedback and growth
- Teacher leadership opportunities
‘Thank you’ and ‘wow’ are the first words that come to mind. This is something that I am going to need because my school and class have a high need. Classes in the Department of Teaching and Learning are part of the reason I wanted to teach [at John M. Gandy Elementary School] and feel so passionately about being in a Title I school. – Hannah Kinser (M.T. '21)