Mentoring and Induction Program Lead (2015-2018)
As part of the Learning Forward Academy Class of 2017, I had the opportunity to delve into the Standards for Professional Learning (2011). The problem of practice that I chose to investigate involved the alignment of our New Educator Orientation and Mentoring & Induction Program to Illinois Induction Program Standards in order to:
1. support effective instructional practices for new educators, 2. improve non-tenured teacher retention rates in the district, and 3. positively impact student learning. |
Comprehensive improvements to the program were research-based, included the voices of various stakeholders, and promoted a culture of commitment to supporting the transition of new educators into the profession. The Vision, Mission/Goals, and documentation samples below were a result of our work, mainly over the course of the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, with the funding of the ISBE New Teacher Mentoring Grant.
Vision:
Every new educator who joins District 131 will be a part of a comprehensive support system that is designed to enhance educator effectiveness and positively impact student learning.
Mission and Goals:
The Mentoring and Induction Program serves all new educators through differentiated professional learning that aligns with the domains of professional practice.
Goals: District 131 will commit to the following goals:
Every new educator who joins District 131 will be a part of a comprehensive support system that is designed to enhance educator effectiveness and positively impact student learning.
Mission and Goals:
The Mentoring and Induction Program serves all new educators through differentiated professional learning that aligns with the domains of professional practice.
Goals: District 131 will commit to the following goals:
- Clarify expectations and guidelines for all stakeholders in the Mentoring and Induction Program.
- Host an annual New Educator Orientation that is designed to welcome and prepare new educators for the beginning of the school year.
- Provide ongoing professional learning through a cohort experience that builds community, focuses on a component of professional practice, and meets the experience-level needs of all new educators.
- Prioritize resources to support implementation of the coaching cycle for novice educators and their mentors.
Mentoring & Induction Program Guidebook |
Mentor Professional Learning 2017-2018 |
New Educator Orientation 2017 |
New Educator Workshops 2017-2018 |