Supporting new educators
Every new educator should know who to ask.
CoLab connects new educators, and the apprentices in your grow-your-own program, with mentors and colleagues who teach what they teach, so the first years build confidence, not isolation.
The challenge
A mentor if they’re lucky. A search engine or an AI chatbot if they’re not.
The first years decide whether new educators stay, and too many face them alone.
44%
of new teachers leave the profession within five years.
Center for American Progress, 2025
30%
of teachers with two or fewer years’ experience left their school in 2022-23 alone.
Economic Research Strategies, via Center for American Progress, 2025
73%
of early-career teachers who have considered leaving cite a lack of support.
Center for American Progress survey, 2025
A first year with people around it
Day one
“I got a binder and a mentor I see once a month.”
Every apprentice and new educator joins a cohort Space with mentors and coaches: their place to ask anything, from day one.
Nobody starts alone.
Finding their people
“I’m the only grade 7 science teacher here. I plan alone, late at night.”
Portfolios connect them with the colleague who taught the same unit last year, in any school.
Answers arrive the same day.
Mid-year
“We found out she was struggling at her exit interview.”
Leads see what new educators keep asking and where they’re struggling.
Mentors reach people before they decide to leave.
Year two
“Every August, our new hires start from a blank page.”
Next year’s cohort inherits a year of answers, and apprentices step in as teachers of record with their network around them.
Each cohort starts further ahead.
Grow-your-own and apprenticeship programs
Your future teachers need a cohort too.
Apprentices are often paraprofessionals, parents and career changers learning to teach while working full time. CoLab brings everyone around them into one community.
A cohort across districts.
Even with two apprentices, they learn with peers in other schools and districts.
Mentors who learn together.
Mentor teachers share how they coach, so every apprentice gets stronger support.
Every partner in one place.
University supervisors, mentors and program leads support each apprentice together.
What you’ll be able to do
Support new educators before it’s too late.
Step in early, before a struggling new educator decides to leave
Support apprentices on the way to their own classroom
Double down on the supports that work
More on insights
How we work with you
Your measure of success is ours.
01
Goals that matter.
We track what’s changing in classrooms, not logins.
Teachers in strong professional cultures improve faster. Kraft and Papay, 2014
02
Built on what you have.
Your induction materials and mentors are the foundation.
Induction or apprenticeship program runs with a university or PD partner? CoLab works alongside them.
For PD partners
