The Alignment of Supervision and Supporting Practices for Novice Teachers in Secondary Schools

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Six
  In Roundtable Session: Reconceptualizing Supervision and Instructional Leadership in Complex Contexts (Table 17)

Abstract

Supervision and support for novice teachers are two key components of the broader Human Resource Management (HRM) system in secondary schools. Ideally, these HRM practices are aligned with each other and reinforce each other’s effectiveness. However, their competing objectives might cause them to work against each other. This qualitative study explores how supervision and support for novice teachers are deployed strategically within secondary schools. The analyses are based on 57 semi-structured interviews with supervisors, novice teachers and supporting teachers in 12 secondary schools in Flanders, Belgium. The interview data reveal great variation in secondary schools’ alignment of supervision and support of novice teachers. Results provide insight in the way secondary schools harmonize the competing objectives of supervision and novice support.

Authors

• Pieter Flamand, Ghent University
  Presenting Author

• Melissa Tuytens, Ghent University
  Presenting Author

• Eva Vekeman, Ghent University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Geert Devos, Ghent University
  Non-Presenting Author