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