Local News
NEW TEACHERS CONFERENCE
Friday, November 30, 2007
8:00-3:30, Marlborough, MA
Fee: $50.00
http://www.massteacher.org/career/new_members/index.cfm
Mentor/mentee Orientation 2006-2007
In the decade ahead, America's public schools will recruit more than 2 million new teachers. Why? School enrollments continue to rise while veteran teachers are retiring in record numbers. Recruiting all the new teachers needed, will be a challenging task. But equally challenging will be retaining these new teachers, because only about fifty percent of new teachers today are choosing to stay in the profession beyond five years.
That's where mentoring comes in. Making the transition from student in the classroom to teacher in a classroom requires more than learning a philosophy of teaching. It requires guided practice. A successful transition requires an understanding of policies and procedures of the school district, leadership skills, a willingness to learn and share, and a sense of confidence.
Teacher mentoring programs are vital for new teacher success and have been in place for a bout a generation. Currently more than half of states in this country require mentoring for entry-level teachers and StateplaceMassachusetts is one such state.
Mentoring provides new teachers with support and also helps build long-term relationships that can lead to classroom success. Mentoring programs offer new teachers a practical way to overcome the many hurdles they face in their critical first year. By taking the time to address these issues, teacher effectiveness will improve.
It is obvious that attracting and retaining qualified new teachers is in everyone's best interest.
The Ashburnham-Westminster Teachers Association sponsored one such program to train veteran teachers for the mentoring task this summer. Twenty-five veteran teachers took part in this all encompassing program and created a manual or guidebook for the district. This book gives mentoring tips and information that can be used when the mentor-mentee relationship is established.
We feel confident that a strong mentoring program, that builds a two-way relationship of understanding, guidance and ideas will help to continue to make the PlaceNameplaceAshburnham-Westminster PlaceTypeSchool District a quality district where new teachers, as well as veteran teachers will feel encouraged to continue their profession. Although, the process is all encompassing and complex it is the students of our district that benefit from the continued team effort and support.
Above are pictures taken at the mentor/mentee orientation. The mentoring program is multi-year.