Teacher preparation programs have to catch up.  Until then, filling the gaps that those shortcomings create has become the responsibility of the teachers and leaders in schools which hire recent graduates. Those districts large enough have teacher leaders, including department chairs, and curriculum personnel in the district office who can support the principals. Together they carry the burden of developing the novice teacher. But, many more schools have only the principal and the teacher colleagues to hold the responsibility of bringing the novice teacher forward in the profession.  That is a most heavy lift, one done with dedication and hopefulness, but heavy just the same. Those who step up to fill the gap are heroes. Read more...