5th Annual INTC Induction and Mentoring Conference a Success
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — New teacher induction and mentoring was the focus of a statewide conference Feb. 23-24 in Springfield, Ill., the fifth annual conference organized by the Illinois New Teacher Collaborative (INTC).
Nearly 400 educators and policymakers attended the event, “Digging Deeper: Using the Induction and Mentoring Continuum for Program Advancement,” at the Hilton Springfield, 700 E. Adams St.
The conference was interactive and team-oriented, offering networking opportunities for teacher mentoring programs from around the state to learn from each other. This event showcased ideas, strategies and tools to help new teachers, teacher mentors and administrators learn more about induction and mentoring programs, says Dr. Chris Roegge, Director of INTC, a statewide initiative involving almost every group with an interest in Illinois education.
“School districts face tough economic choices this year,” Roegge said. “Schools are eager to mentor and retain quality teachers. This conference gives those schools and school districts an opportunity to learn from other successful induction and mentoring programs.”
The opening speaker for the event was Dr. Christopher Koch, Illinois State Superintendent of Education. The first of two keynote speakers was Barry Sweeny, President of Best Practices Resources, an educational consulting firm in Wheaton, Ill., and Director Emeritus of the International Mentoring Association. The second keynote speaker was Mary Clement, Associate Professor at Berry College. She has authored seven books on teaching, and her writing has been featured in the Kappan, the American School Board Journal, Principal and Principal Leadership.
The conference featured general sessions, breakout sessions and planning time based around the Illinois Induction Program Continuum. Participants focused on developing program improvement plans to take what they learned at the conference and apply it to their induction and mentoring programs.
The Illinois New Teacher Collaborative is supported by and housed at the College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Additional major support comes from the State Farm Companies Foundation and the Illinois State Board of Education.