Mentoring and Induction
Effective teaching is the number one factor that influences student achievement. New teachers typically take anywhere from three to seven years, to teach at a proficiency level that maximizes student growth and achievement. New teachers face many challenges when entering the teaching profession, such as, developing and implementing classroom management skills, communicating and working with families, transferring theory from university teacher prep programs into actual classroom practice, as well as delivering instruction that meets the varying needs of today’s students. Despite this, most new teachers entering the field do not receive the necessary support or feedback they need to evolve into effective teachers.
Achieving high levels of student learning requires skillful teaching and schools dedicated to supporting teachers’ ongoing learning. The school culture of how teachers are supported must change. We can no longer allow the work of teachers to be done in isolation nor can we allow for our beginning teachers to end up in the most challenging and difficult classrooms or school placements.
Achieving high levels of student learning requires skillful teaching and schools dedicated to supporting teachers’ ongoing learning. The school culture of how teachers are supported must change. We can no longer allow the work of teachers to be done in isolation nor can we allow for our beginning teachers to end up in the most challenging and difficult classrooms or school placements.
The partnership will foster the creation of affinity groups for new hires and teachers of color across districts. The HR directors in each district, as part of their work together, will create policies/procedures as needed to ensure these are par for the course in hiring. The HR directors will continue to work closely with the teacher associations to provide support to all new, as well as, continuing teachers. As a part of the hiring process, the mentoring and induction programs will be made clear to all applicants. The three districts will work with their school boards to continually evaluate and improve the mentorship programs.
Mentors are recruited via a position notification and will apply to a team who will evaluate applicants based on a standardized rubric and with a lens on equity. Applicants will have over 4 years of classroom experience and be committed to professional development and inquiry with a preference for those with mentoring experience and/or New Teacher Center training. Once hired, mentors will participate in district mentor orientation, teacher induction modules, and weekly meetings with district lead. Matches with mentors are made with location, school, and experience with specific populations, content area and other relevant features in mind.
Mentors are recruited via a position notification and will apply to a team who will evaluate applicants based on a standardized rubric and with a lens on equity. Applicants will have over 4 years of classroom experience and be committed to professional development and inquiry with a preference for those with mentoring experience and/or New Teacher Center training. Once hired, mentors will participate in district mentor orientation, teacher induction modules, and weekly meetings with district lead. Matches with mentors are made with location, school, and experience with specific populations, content area and other relevant features in mind.