Program Information
Beginning Teacher Induction Program
Pilot Grant
The Illinois State Board of Education has granted funding
to 41 total school sites to enhance induction and mentoring
programs throughout the state. Unit 5 is pleased to be one
of these recipients and is using this funding to enhance
our Mentoring Program for novice teachers.
The Unit 5 Mentoring Program
All new teachers to Unit 5 are assigned a 1:1 mentor
to assist their transition into the district regardless
of experience. These teachers aid and assist new teachers
in a variety of ways. They provide general information about
a particular building or grade level and curricular support.
This type of mentoring has been a part of the larger induction
program for many years.
As a result of the grant, novice teachers are now assigned
an additional lead mentor who will work intensively with
the new teacher on quality instructional methods and practices.
The lead mentor has been released from classroom duties
to spend 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours per week observing and mentoring
the novice teacher. The intent of this interaction is to
aid the new teacher’s ability to reflect upon their practice
and improve teacher retention and student achievement.
This mentoring program is based upon the nationally renowned
research and mentoring design developed at the New Teacher
Center at the University of California at Santa Cruz. The
New Teacher Center has developed a variety of tools and
strategies designed to improve the development of novice
teachers. Lead mentors will utilize these tools to promote
collaborative discussions between themselves and novice
teachers and to promote reflective practice. Research suggests
that this type of interaction benefits both the mentor and
novice teacher. Ultimately, students benefit the most.
Why Are Mentoring Programs Needed?
- Many novice teachers have had as little as
10 weeks of teaching experience.
- Nationally, approximately 50% of novice teachers
leave the profession within the first 5 years.
- Locally, approximately 40% of novice teachers leave
the Unit 5 within the first 5 years.
- Unit 5 is experiencing high growth. As a result,
many novice teachers are hired by the district impacting
a significant percentage of students.
- Student achievement increases as a result of high
quality mentoring programs for novice teachers.
- ISBE requires that districts have a mentoring program
in place if they are to have an Assured Program to move
novice teachers from an Initial to Standard Teaching
Certificate
Unit 5 Mentoring Program Goals
- Establish new professional norms of collaboration
and ongoing learning
- Improve teaching performance
- Increase student achievement
- Plan and implement high quality training for mentors
and novice teachers
- Increase teacher retention
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