Professional Mentoring Program

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Professional Mentoring Program
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New Educators Need Mentors!

• Even with extensive pre-service teaching
  preparation, the beginning years of teaching
  present many challenges that reflect a steep
  learning curve.
• NASBE, The Numbers Game, 1998

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Why a Mentoring Program?

• Recruitment
• Retention... In Iowa, 18 of all new teachers
  leave the profession after 1 year! 28 leave
  after 3 years! ISEA (April, 1999)
• Strong Teaching Force... For Powerful Student
  Learning!

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History

• Sept. 1997 - Development of a new DCSD
  Professional Staff Evaluation System for
  teachers, counselors, and nurses based on
  Charlotte Danielsons Enhancing Professional
  Practice - A Framework for Teaching.
• Dec. 1999 - Award of a Goals 2000 Teacher
  Pre-service Implementation Grant.

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History Continued...

• January 1999 - Formation of the DCSD Professional
  Mentoring Task Force.
• DCSD Teachers, Counselors, Nurses and
  Administrators
• Iowa State Education Association
• Dubuque Education Association
• Loras College

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History Continued...

• May-June 1999 - Adoption of Pathwise Induction
  Program by mentoring task force. This mentoring
  program is based on the work of Charlotte
  Danielson.
• August 1999 - Implementation of the DCSD
  Professional Mentoring Program.
• Feb. 2000 - Award of a State Beginning Teacher
  Induction Grant.

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Professional Mentoring

• The DCSD Mentoring Program seeks to provide
  guidance and support for teachers, counselors,
  and nurses new to the school district. This
  service is provided through a THREE LEVEL program.

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Level One

• Orientation
• Welcome, support, and orientation to curriculum,
  school, and district.
• A monthly checklist of Things to do and People
  to Meet
• This level is provided to all teachers,
  counselors, and nurses new to our district.

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Level Two

• Training sessions
• District provided training in topics such
  as equity and diversity and special education
  etc.
• Provided to all teachers, counselors, and
  nurses new to our district.

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Level Three

• Instructional Focus With Feedback
• An intensive, sustaining collegial examination of
  teaching and learning between an Instructional
  Mentor and a new teacher, counselor, or nurse
  with fewer than three years of experience. (In
  Dubuque this new educator is referred to as a New
  Professional.)

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Level Three Continued

• For this level of the program, Professional
  Mentors and New Professionals use the Pathwise
  Induction Program from Educational Testing
  Service.
• This is a collaborative induction program that
  focuses on ten structured mentoring activities
  over a two-year time period.

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Level Three Continued

• The Pathwise Induction Program activities
• enable the New Professional to identify areas of
  strength and growth.
• enable the New Professional to better meet the
  learning needs of their students.

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Level Three Events
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Level Three Events
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Qualities of a Professional Mentor

• demonstrates instructional leadership.
• uses a variety of instructional methods to meet
  the needs of all students.
• conveys enthusiasm about learning to students.
• has good communication skills.
• is reflective and open-minded.
• is committed to students and excellent student
  performance!

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DCSD Professional Mentors...

• The Dubuque Community School District currently
  has 140 teachers, counselors, and nurses trained
  as Professional Mentors!
• 87 trained Professional Mentors are currently
  matched with a teacher, counselor, or nurse with
  fewer than three years of experience.

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Wow!
It has led me to actively reflect on the four
areas of my profession and has challenged me to
improve by writing a Professional Growth Plan.
Having a mentor with whom to discuss topics has
been vitally important to me. -Quote from a New
Professional in Dubuque
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Super!
I truly enjoy talking with my mentor about
everything! Weve truly clicked and dont look
at our meetings as professional - we approach it
as friends talking! -Quote from a New
Professional in Dubuque
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More Wonderful Quotes...

• Because of this I am more comfortable with what
  I do!
• I am a more confident teacher, thus more
  prepared and ready to teach.
• My mentor helped me cope with the emotional
  highs and lows of teaching-made me feel better
  that what I was feeling was normal.

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For More Information

• Jeffrey J. Johll
• Professional Mentoring Program Coordinator
• Dubuque Community School District
• 2300 Chaney Road
• Dubuque, Iowa 52001
• e-mail jjohll_at_dubuque.k12.ia.us
• phone [phone]