British Columbia’s K-12 public education system has a critical teacher shortage. Every day, schools scramble to find enough qualified teachers to provide instruction and meet the needs of diverse learners in the face of increasingly complex and challenging conditions. According to the most recent labour forecasts, 19,610 new K–12 teachers will be needed in BC’s public schools in the next decade. With school districts already struggling to fill postings, an urgent and comprehensive response is vital to meet current and future staffing demands.

Teacher mentorship can be a critical support for new teachers and teachers who are transitioning between roles, schools, districts, provinces, and countries. In August 2024, the Provincial Government announced the creation of a new provincial mentorship program as part of its envelope of workforce strategies to recruit and retain teachers.

A newly published report from BCTF Research looks at the history and current state of teacher mentorship in BC. Analysis shows how engaging in mentorship is a deeply rooted tradition among BC teachers, taking place in a complex network of activities, collegial relationships, programs, and funding models. To be workable, any new provincial initiative will need to consider the principles, programs, and practices already in play across BC school districts and locals. Drawing on information provided by BCTF members actively engaged in mentorship advocacy and work, this report points to five key qualities that could enable a provincial framework to sustain and build on vital mentorship efforts already happening across BC.

To learn more about teacher mentorship in BC—and how the BCTF and local unions are supporting mentoring efforts at a time when the recruitment, retention, and recognition of every teacher in BC public schools is more critical than ever—you can read the full report here.