Induction as a Means of Crafting Courage: Increasing New Teachers' Understanding of Social Justice and Their Capacity to Address Inequities in the Classroom

This parallel qualitative case study explored a potential outcome of California CTC Teacher Induction Program Standards (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing [California CTC], 2020) as one that develops a beginning teacher's disposition of courage in addressing numerous inequities in education. This study employed qualitative interviewing techniques to elicit new teachers' ability to identify induction standards and related experiences to develop an understanding of equity in education and the ability to advocate for student needs. The research design engaged three teachers and one mentor in year two of the induction program offered through the University of California Los Angeles' extension program as well as two teachers in year one and one coordinator from an induction program offered through the New Teacher Center at the University of California Santa Cruz. Participation in teacher induction programming necessitates a one- to two-year commitment and is mandatory in California. New teachers come into the field armed with life experiences that have the potential to increase their ability to address inequities in education. The current California CTC Teacher Induction Program Standards (California CTC, 2020) are structured without an opportunity to increase a new teacher's ability to address inequities in education by capitalizing on the knowledge and experience new teacher participants bring into the induction program. Therefore, individual programs vary in whether or not they include a focus on equity and cultivate experiences to build new teacher participants' ability to have courageous conversations about inequities in education. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]