5 Strategies to Support Uncertified Teachers

The shortage of certified teachers applying for campus roles has been a struggle for many district and campus leaders for the last several years. District and campus leaders have had to become creative in filling these gaps by leveraging flexibility programs, such as District of Innovation exemptions or visiting international teacher programs. These teachers often enter the role with enthusiasm and a passion for working with students- and many are quickly met with the realities of the rigor and challenges of the work. The challenges of classroom management, learning a robust curriculum, and meeting the various needs of learners and their families can become overwhelming for some inexperienced teachers.  
 
Without the support and education from an educator preparation program that offers onboarding, coursework, and ongoing coaching cycles, the needs of these uncertified teachers can sometimes fall on the campus leadership team to effectively support their success and help them learn while they serve in the role. 
 
As we know from the Effective Schools Framework, an effective leader intentionally and systematically addresses campus needs. With this in mind, here are some high-leverage strategies to strategically prioritize to ensure a successful experience for your uncertified teachers.

1. Establish a Strong Mentorship Program 

Strong leadership from the admin team is essential to the teacher’s success, but as we know, your leadership team is juggling many tasks. Pairing new or uncertified teachers with experienced mentors can be a game-changer for the uncertified teacher. A strong mentorship program provides guidance on classroom management, lesson planning, and navigating school policies. Mentors can also offer emotional support and help inexperienced teachers acclimate to the pace of campus life and professional expectations related to the role. 

Implementation Tip: 

• Ensure regular check-ins between mentors and mentees. 
• Provide a structured guide or checklist for mentors to cover key teaching practices. 
• Regularly check in and monitor mentorship practices to ensure accountability and alignment of support.  

2. Offer Targeted Professional Development and Coaching 

Download our FREE Resource: A Monthly Checklist to Support Uncertified Teachers

We often hear from inexperienced teachers, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” It might be hard for them to identify or prioritize the learning they need to support students in their first year successfully. Additionally, without prior coursework experience in an educator prep program, our uncertified teachers often go blind- unaware of best practices for class management, planning and instruction, or partnering with others for student success.

Tailored professional development sessions can help bridge knowledge gaps and equip uncertified teachers with the necessary skills to excel in the classroom. For example, focus on instructional strategies, student engagement techniques, and assessment methods. One-on-one coaching, paired with this ongoing PD learning, will accelerate the growth in professional practice and empower your uncertified staff to be active participants in their improvement as educators.  

Implementation Tip: 

• Provide PD focused on classroom management, education standards, and planning and delivering instruction. 
• Encourage peer-led workshops where experienced teachers share best practices. 
• Provide ongoing one-on-one coaching cycles with the uncertified teacher and an instructional coach, mentor, or campus leader. 

3. Foster a Collaborative School Culture 

Teachers stay on campuses where they feel supported and empowered. The campus leader leads the direction of your school culture. Creating a supportive and inclusive school culture benefits both teachers and students. Encourage collaboration among staff through team teaching, co-planning sessions, and professional learning communities. 

Implementation Tip: 

• Assign teaching teams or buddy systems to promote collaboration. 
• If you have more than 1-2 uncertified or novice teachers, consider having them meet to support one another as they learn and grow over the year. 
• Host regular faculty meetings to share insights and challenges among the staff. 
• Make a point to celebrate the wins of your uncertified teachers. 

4. Provide Clear and Accessible Resources 

Many uncertified teachers may struggle to understand state standards, curriculum requirements, or classroom technology. They might not have heard of TEKS, ELPS, or learning objectives until they have stepped into the role. Providing accessible resources and support in navigating these robust tools can help them feel more confident and effective in their roles. Prioritize specific resources that support an instructional need—the uncertified teachers can’t learn it all at once.  

Implementation Tip: 

• Develop a teacher resource hub with lesson plans, classroom management guides, and instructional materials. 
• Establish a scope and sequence of learning about the different components of the resources to ensure the learning occurs in manageable chunks for the uncertified teachers. 
• Offer training on using school-based technology platforms. 
• Empower the uncertified teachers to know who to ask for help with curriculum resources—it may be a dean of instruction, instructional coach, department lead, or mentor.   

5. Support Strong Classroom Management and Discipline Protocols 

Uncertified teachers may need time to adapt to different classroom dynamics and student behaviors. Providing training on effective classroom management techniques, campus-based behavior expectations, and cultural expectations can help ease this transition. It’s also important that these expectations are clear to all stakeholders—teachers, students, and families alike. Aligning a clear message and identifying a toolbox of specific classroom management routines will allow the uncertified to respond with confidence, empathy, and high expectations.  

Implementation Tip: 

• Offer orientation sessions on implementing the campus-wide behavior expectations and discipline matrix. 
• Develop a straightforward toolbox of classroom management routines for the uncertified teachers to select from to support their varied needs. 
• Provide ongoing PD and targeted coaching around high-leverage classroom management strategies. Texas TLAC is a great, FREE resource available to all Texas educators! 
• Encourage teachers to share their experiences and perspectives. This will enrich the school community and offer a different perspective on addressing student behavior needs. 

Supporting and empowering uncertified teachers is a necessity and a valuable opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient teaching force. Implementing structured mentorship, targeted professional development, and fostering collaborative school cultures are essential. Additionally, providing accessible resources and clear classroom management strategies further ensures these educators are set up for success. As a result, these intentional supports benefit the teachers and contribute to a more positive and effective learning environment for students. To get started, consider leveraging the following resources to support your efforts in developing your uncertified teachers.

• FREE RESOURCE- A Leader’s Monthly Checklist to Support Uncertified Teachers 
• Consider connecting them to R13’s Educator Certification Program, and let us lighten the load of supporting your inexperienced teachers! They can also sign up for ECP’s email list for more information.

Finally, investing in the growth of inexperienced teachers today ensures a more confident, skilled, and dedicated workforce for the future. By fostering a culture of learning, support, and continuous improvement, schools can transform uncertified teachers from uncertain to unstoppable, ultimately strengthening the entire educational community.