Evaluation of a New Teacher Support Program in a Pacific Northwest School District

This applied dissertation was designed to conduct a comprehensive program evaluation of a New Teacher Support Program (NTSP) in a Pacific Northwest school district. The district developed and implemented the NTSP over 3 years ago, but it had not been evaluated at the time of the researcher’s study. An evaluation of the NTSP was necessary to determine if it was operating as it was originally intended to, and if the program was operating efficiently and effectively. The researcher conducted a comprehensive program evaluation of the NTSP at a school district in the Pacific Northwest. The evaluation employed the Context, Input, Process, and Product methodology of program evaluation. The study included mixed-method research combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher developed a survey instrument to gather data from teachers regarding their experiences in the NTSP. Additional data were gathered from key program staff interviews. Data collected during the program evaluation revealed that although many of the NTSP features were well organized and effective, there were areas that warranted changes in the NTSP in order for it to operate more efficiently and to better meet the needs of participants.