Tweeners
Anyone new to a particular culture
A Loose Connection
Strengthening the bond of Tweeners is absolutely crucial to the development of positive school culture. A recent study indicated that 50% of new teachers who enter the educational profession leave the field before their 5th year in the classroom; in urban areas, that number escalates to nearly 70%.
Teams that build a core group of players who grow and develop together take positive steps toward winning a championship carry the goals and norms of the team with them from year to to year. If a team's roster of athletes and coaches changes from year to year and no clear nucleus is established, that team usually flounders and struggles to search for an identity. Consequently, victories become rare as the team grows more and more unstable. Schools are no different. School districts that are serious about growth and reform must be proactive in their plans to strengthen the bond between the school and the Tweener.
An Enthusiastic Nature
Tweeners try to immerse themselves in their new culture by participating in voluntary committees, attending staff social functions, and arriving at the school early and leaving late. Tweeners, especially in the beginning stages, seize every opportunity to learn about their new environment.
The "Honeymoon Period" and Compliance
Administrators often assume everything is running smoothly because of the Tweeners high level of compliance and sunny disposition, but the teacher may be experiencing significant difficulty and trials. This causes some Tweeners to live in two worlds: a private world of struggle and doubt and a public world of false enthusiasm and positivity. These two worlds are a collision course called the moment of truth.
The moment of truth is the very critical moment when an educator questions his or her likelihood of continuing in the field. Any experienced educator remembers that moment well and the conditions that caused it. The reasons can vary from an explosive confrontation with parents to an unresponsive student who refuses to comply with classroom rules and regulations. No matter the circumstance, this very painful moment is significant in the career of an educator. It is the first time the educator seriously questions whether he or she will continue or consider other career options.