As a first-time Special Education teacher eager to jump into the classroom, I was surprised to experience roadblocks bigger than overdue assignments, long staff meetings, or lesson planning: anxiety and imposter syndrome. While it sometimes feels as if I’m alone in this experience, my school colleagues and teachers around the world reassured me that it’s actually very common.

While many new teachers dream of engaged students, pristine lesson plans, and the accompanying sense of satisfaction, their aspirations often mismatch their actual experiences; in fact, many novice teachers refer to their first year as difficult, anxiety-provoking, and sometimes disappointing. Unfortunately, stress can have a profound impact on teacher turnover; by the time they reach their fifth year of teaching, 50% of novice Special Education teachers will have left the field.

So, what’s a new teacher to do? Several studies have shown that having a mentor teacher can help ease some of novice teachers’ anxiety and frustration. In particular, new teachers find it helpful to see other people in the same career path who were once beginners themselves and have since experienced success. Further, it’s important to take time to prepare for the role whenever possible, even if it means attending extra professional development sessions outside of the school day or workshops during the summer. Through ongoing support and training, new teachers can feel more confident that they have what it takes to shape students’ minds and that they belong in teaching.

By Kayla Landis, former Research Assistant at the Center for Social Development and Education.