Induction Newsletter: Spring 2014

Message from the Director

Our organization is called the “Illinois New Teacher Collaborative,” and our focus has always been on beginning teachers. We know that they need mentors, professional development, and extra attention from administrators in order to reach their potential and help their students thrive.

However, beginning teachers are not the only new educational professionals who need induction support. Speech pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, librarians, and counselors, to name a few, also interact with students and need support as they begin their new careers.

Additionally, many recent graduates work as long-term substitutes before they land their first permanent teaching job. They—and their students—would benefit if they received some mentoring and professional development as well.

As you work on your induction programs, please consider how you could involve the new non-teachers in your districts. Doing so can positively impact your induction program, your school, and your students.

Thank you all for the good work you do—for educators—on behalf of children and young people across Illinois.

Patricia Brady
Director, Illinois New Teacher Collaborative

The Beginning Teacher Conference

Each year, INTC hosts a no-cost conference for new teachers where they network, reflect on their first year of teaching, attend breakout sessions, and hear a motivational speaker. In its fifth year, the Beginning Teacher Conference on June 23-24 will allow for more participants, increased breakout sessions, and additional repeated sessions for a wider variety of content. Last year, the conference sold out in seven days. The increased interest and popularity of this conference is a testament to the needs of beginning teachers and the importance of this conference for those attending.

The Beginning Teacher STEM Conference

Registration will open on May 1 for the 2nd annual Beginning Teacher STEM Conference. Eligible attendees must be K-12 teachers who teach some STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) content and have 1 to 4 years of teaching experience. These teachers will attend sessions led by master teachers and STEM University of Illinois faculty, all of whom are experts in their field. The conference offers top-rated breakout sessions from 2013 plus a range of new sessions. There is no conference fee, and attendees will also be provided with two lunches, a breakfast, and a catered evening reception. The 2013 STEM conference filled in less than 24 hours, so please encourage beginning teachers to sign up as soon as registration opens.

Illinois Induction News

Gov. Quinn’s FY15 budget proposal recommends $5 million for teacher mentoring, in addition to $1 million for principal mentoring. This is consistent with ISBE’s budget proposal:

“Five million dollars is being recommended to provide mentoring opportunities for new teachers. Studies have found that high quality induction programs can reduce turnover by 50 percent. Turnover creates additional administrative costs to a district and loss of teaching quality and effectiveness. With increasing accountability and new evaluations systems, it is critical that new teachers receive support and professional development that will support their teaching. With increasing accountability and new evaluations systems, it is critical that the approximately 8,700 new teachers entering the workforce each year receive support and professional development that will support their teaching. The requested funding would support mentoring of 2,500 to 3,000 new teachers." (Page 8)

Other Illinois budget proposals also recommend money for teacher induction and mentoring. Rep. Michael J. Madigan’s education budget, in HB6021, requests $4,337,700 for teacher mentoring.

Participation in induction and mentoring programs can help new teachers accrue professional development for their license renewal, according to Jason Helfer, ISBE Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. For more information, click here.

Recent induction research and reports

The push to improve teacher induction is a global one, according to a recent report on Early Teacher Development by the Asia Society. It describes international agreement on best practices for induction, including:

• Structured mentoring by skilled mentors
• A culture of observation, collaboration, and feedback
• Continuity with initial teacher education
• Strong implementation and adequate resources (p. 5)

The report also provides mini case studies of induction in other countries. In Seoul, for example, new teachers have a two-week orientation before they start teaching and a two-week reflection program at the end of their first year. In Shanghai, all teachers have mentors, and beginning teachers have two: one subject-specific and one focused on classroom management. In Ontario, the province funds induction; it mandates certain common elements but is individualized for each new teacher’s needs.

News you can use