Mentoring new special education teachers a guide for mentors and program developers duffy mary lou forgan james w on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers mentoring new special education teachers a guide for mentors and program developers. Mentoring new special education teachers a guide for mentors and program developers duffy mary lou forgan james w corwin press surveys show that 98 of school districts are reporting shortages of special education teachers and that nearly a quarter of a million new special education teachers will be needed over the next few years . The turnover rate for special education teachers is the highest of all education fields it is a tremendously demanding field made more difficult by the fact that special education classrooms now are populated by mostly moderate to severely disabled students emotional and behaviorally challenged autistic mentally retarded deaf and dumb blind etc making the demands even more pronounced. How do you avoid the high cost of turnover and retain high quality special education teachers in such a demanding field surveys show that 98 of school districts are reporting shortages of special education teachers and that nearly a quarter of a million new special education teachers will be needed over the next few years. Mentoring new special education teachers will help administrators and other educators develop and sustain effective mentoring programs specifically designed for special education teachers providing practical field tested activities and resources for both the mentors and the mentees including such critical elements as