http://administrators.net/
Thursday, March 29, 2001
School Administrators Collaborative
Orienting/Inducting New Teachers
Kathleen -
Welcome to Teachers.Net's School Administrators' Collaborative
meeting The topic tonight is Orienting/Inducting New Teachers
Kathleen - Hi Sandi
and mmw, are you school administrators?
mmw - i am a teacher,
but will soon have training to help new teachers
Kathleen - mmw, are
you preparing an induction program?
Sandi - Hi everyone...I
will be an administrator in about a year
Sandi - I am just
finishing up my administrative credential
Kathleen - Sandi,
at what level will you serve?
mmw - CT has what
is called BEST training. It prepares teachers for hosting student teachers
and to be mentors for new teachers
Kathleen - In his
April article, Harry Wong explains to new teachers what an induction program
is: "...make sure it is a structured induction program and not just a day
of orientation or you're just given a mentor or buddy. An induction program
is designed to train, support, and retain you.... An induction program
is a district's message to you that they care about you, that they value
you, and that they want you to succeed and stay.
Sandi - Kathleen,
I will begin as an AP...probably in one of our new Sp.Ed. AP positions
mmw - The BEST trng.
is a three day program
Sandi - about you?
Kathleen - Harry
& Rosemary Wong write about inducting new teachers in their article,
What Successful New Teachers Are Taught, in the March issue of the Teachers.Net
Gazette at http://teachers.net/gazette/MAR01/wong.html
...that is where the excerpt below came from
Kathleen - I am the
moderator, I work for Teachers.Net. I'm not a school administrator.
Sandi - oh.........I
was hoping to talk to some administrators...do many people usually show
up?
Kathleen - mmw, that
would be separate from a school district's induction/orientation, right?
Kathleen - Sandi,
at least several usually do come in once we get going.
Sandi - okay, thanks
Kathleen - My husband
is a retired (but working again) school administrator, I should go bring
him to chat with you, Sandy. 
Kathleen - Sandi,
you'll be working in your current district?
Kathleen - Hi Donna,
are you a school administrator?
Sandi - thanks, but
no need for that Kathleen
Donna - Yes, I am.
I have been a principal for 23 years.
Sandi - yes, I will
be working in Los Angeles
Kathleen - I think
he's immersed in basketball right now anyway.
Sandi - Hi Donna
Kathleen - Donna,
Sandi is preparing to become an admin. next year.
Donna - Hello, Sandi
Kathleen - And mmw
will be conducting a special program that supports new teachers in CT,
known as the BEST program. mmw, would you tell us what the acronym BEST
stands for?
Sandi - I have been
a teacher since 1973, and decided to become an administrator about 2 years
ago!
Kathleen - Donna,
after 23 years do you feel the need for support?
Sandi - Hi disi
Kathleen - Hello
desi. Are you a school administrator?
desi - hello im an
aspiring administrator
Sandi - oops...excuse
me Desi
Donna - I just logged
on. If you are referring to support for new teachers , yes. The first year
is very difficult.
desi - i actually
have all of my credentials but i need a job !
Sandi - desi, where
do you teach?
desi - I teach in
NYC in the Bronx
Kathleen - For those
who just arrived, please note this for use after this meeting: Harry &
Rosemary Wong write about inducting new teachers in their article, What
Successful New Teachers Are Taught, in the March issue of the Teachers.Net
Gazette at http://teachers.net/gazette/MAR01/wong.html
desi - presently
i am a staff developer in my school but i think that is a great lead into
admin.
desi - Admin./staff
develop is very important
Sandi - desi, There
are a lot of jobs available in Los Angles
desi - I was just
speaking to a new teacher today i would love tips on the program for inducting
Kathleen - Do your
school districts do more than hand the new teachers a key and some guides
and point them to their classrooms?
desi - thats what
happened to me about 11 years ago Ive never been to LA
Donna - In my school
I certainly do more. I meet with new teachers together. They need to hear
some specifics. I also have them again with the full staff at another meeting.
Each new teacher has a buddy that helps them through the year.
Kathleen - desi,
Harry Wong's March and April articles in the Teachers.Net Gazette provide
much info about induction programs (the April edition to be released in
a week or two).
desi - I vow when
i actually become an admin. i will change that
desi - with our staff
devop. program we are actually teamed up with a new teacher
Kathleen - Earlier
I offered an excerpt from a Wong article and incorrectly said it was from
his April article, it is from his March article: In his March article,
Harry Wong explains to new teachers what an induction program is: "...make
sure it is a structured induction program and not just a day of orientation
or you're just given a mentor or buddy. An induction program is designed
to train, support, and retain you.... An induction program is a district's
message to you that they care about you, that they value you, and that
they want you to succeed and stay.
Kathleen - Any reactions
to that excerpt?
desi - i find that
i am also given so many other responsibilities that i unfortunately dont
have as much quality time for my teachers
coast - I am so happy
I dropped in tonight. I am currently serving on a strategic planning committee
in my school district. We are brainstorming ways to attract and retain
quality to teachers to our district. We are a small community school district
that is losing wonderful teachers to higher paying districts just a few
miles away. We do not have casino money like the other districts. Could
you give me any information as to how your districts attract quality teachers.
Kathleen - coast,
one way to attract quality teachers might be to offer a quality induction
program, good mentoring support
Kathleen - desi,
Sandi, what do you think?
desi - i was just
reading the excerpt it sounds great
desi - does it cost
alot
desi - i may speak
to my superintendent about it
Kathleen - does what
cost a lot? induction programs?
desi - as you may
know NYC will be facing quite a teacher shortage
coast - My district
currently has 18 National Board Certified Teachers and we would like to
attract more. We do have a mentoring program in place, but we have 25%
of our teachers at retirement age now.
Kathleen - yes, teacher
shortages in many areas
Kathleen - coast,
in what state?
coast - Mississippi
desi - yes i was
speaking of the cost of the program to the district i realize that ultimately
the cost of losing great teachers can not be measured $$$
desi - NYC
Kathleen - desi,
if you use in-house personnel it shouldn't be very expensive. And, as you
acknowledge, losing good teachers, or suffering ill-prepared teachers,
has its costs
Kathleen - Do your
schools have mentor programs for new teachers?
coast - Yes, new
teachers are paired with an accomplished teacher for their first year.
desi - yes in NYC
we have the United Federartion of Teachers run an excellent program run
through the Union
desi - ur district
avails itself of those resources and more
Kathleen - Many districts
now present new teachers with one of the new teacher support books available.
does your district do so?
desi - it is called
Teacher Center
coast - Do your district
compensate the teacher that is a mentor for new teachers?
desi - we also have
school based staff developers
desi - no they do
not
Mary/PA - I'm under
the impression that it is required in Pennsylvania to have a mentoring
program in place for all new teachers.
Kathleen - The First
Days of School: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0962936022/teachersnet/
desi - Im interested
in the title of the support book
desi - thanks
Mary/PA - The last
time I was a mentor, we did receive some compensation.
desi - what type
of comp and who payed the individual school or the District office or the
Board of Ed
Kathleen - There
is also a Survival Guide, put out by Inspiring Teachers. I think at http://www.inspiringteachers.com
Kathleen - I believe
the local education agency (school district) pays the mentors
desi - can you give
an example eg. one year=???
desi - what is the
mentor paid
Kathleen - I'm not
familiar with what mentors are generally paid, I imagine it varies a great
deal
Kathleen - mary?
Do you recall?
desi - how much time
must the mentor dedicate to the teacher do they articulate at work or after
coast - I've thought
of having brochures printed highlighting the qualities of our small community
and the fact that we have an accreditation rating of 4.9. Do you have any
other ideas?
Kathleen - desi,
I can't tell you about the amount of time, but I've known mentors to sit
in on classes, to meet outside of class hours
Kathleen - coast,
include details about how new teachers are supported.
Kathleen - By the
way, when we speak of providing support for "new" teachers, do we include
teachers who are new to the district, but not necessarily new to teaching?
Mary/PA - I received
some money, based upon an hourly rate that is negotiated in the local contract.
The money comes for the district which gets a certain amount from the state.
desi - thanks
desi - d imagine
that all "new" teachers should get some form of orientation
coast - The mentoring
program in my district supports "new" teachers to the profession.
desi - its important
that the goals of the district for its students be extended to its new
teacher
coast - However,
all new teachers to the district are trained on how to more effectively
teach our current curriculum.
desi - sorry about
the spelling!
coast - I am not
a typist by trade.
desi -
Kathleen - A First
Year Teacher's Guide Book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0937899399/teachersnet
by B. Williamson et al
desi - Well as an
aspiring admin i really will keep this in mind
desi - i may work
in the district office
Mary/PA - I wish
I would have gathered informatioin for this meeting. I know that we have
quite a vast supply of materials used in our mentoring program. There's
a series of video tapes that we veiw with the new teacher and a series
of assignments that we complete together, but I don't have the details
handy tonight
Kathleen - Teaching
With Love and Logic by Jim Fay: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0944634486/teachersnet
desi - do you think
working at that level and not within the school will affect more change
Kathleen - Would
you agree that new teachers often need help with classroom management more
than anything else?
desi - for helping
new teachers i mean
desi - yes i agree
coast - Yes, they
really have a hard time establishing an effective discipline plan.
Mary/PA - Kathleen,
management is a big area of concern and need, but it's not the only one
by far
Kathleen - desi,
at the central office level you are likely to have more opportunity to
bring about reform
desi - thats what
i thought I really love this profession and i want others to feel that
same love ... corny right:?
Kathleen - Be sure
to read all of the Harry Wong articles in current and back issues of the
Teachers.Net Gazette: http://teachers.net/gazette
coast - Kathleen,
do you think I would find helpful information to present at my next strategic
planning meeting as far as recruitment of quality teachers?
Kathleen - coast,
certainly the latest article (March) would help you
Kathleen - desi,
not corny at all
Kathleen - Well,
I hope you've found some help here tonight. It's time to close down. Thank
you to those who participated.
coast - Can the articles
be downloaded and printed out?
Kathleen - mary,
any tips about downloading and printing from the Gazette?
Kathleen - The Wong
articles are copyrighted...
coast - Thank you
for your help. I've enjoyed talking with you tonight.
Kathleen - coast,
would you e-mail mary@teachers.net to ask about the technical side of the
printing?
Mary/PA - One can
just select Print when viewing a page and it will print out
Kathleen - Maybe
next time more of the regulars will be here to chat. Goodnight!
desi - thanls as
well
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