A caring, competent, and qualified

1
A caring, competent, and qualified teacher for
every child is the most important ingredient in
education reform and, we believe, the most
frequently overlooked. From the Report of the
National Commission on Teaching Americas
Future, What Matters Most Teaching for Americas
Future, c1996.
2
Santa Cruz New Teacher ProjectPhilosophy

• Teaching is a career-long developmental process
• Teaching is a continuous cycle of teaching,
  assessment, reflection, and reteaching
• Professional standards and a focus on student
  achievement guide the improvement of practice
• Teacher development occurs best in a collegial
  environment
• A teachers professional growth leads to improved
  student achievement

3
Key ElementsSupport and Assessment

• New Teacher Advisor
• Professional Development
• Release Time
• Seminar Series
• Learning Portfolio

4
New Teacher Advisor

• Veteran teacher released full-time
• Meets weekly with new teachers at school site
• Provides
• Effective strategies for English Language
  Learners
• Observations, demonstrations, and coaching
• Emotional support
• Help with lesson planning
• Curriculum resources
• Assistance with professional learning goals
• Guides assessment process and portfolio
  development

5
A Mentoring Curriculum

• Developing Productive Supportive Relationships
• Understanding Professional Standards
• Collecting and Analyzing Observation Data
• Using Formative Assessment Strategies
• Using Student Work/Data to Guide Instruction
• Creating Learning Opportunities for Adults
• Building Leadership Capacity and Skills
• Facilitating Groups

6
Formative Assessment

• Collaborative Assessment logs
• Self-Assessment using SCNTP Developmental
  Continuum of Teacher Abilities
• Individualized Learning Plan
• Analysis of Student Work
• Journal Entries
• Documented Observations

7
Professional Development

• Seminar Series
• Focus on literacy and the needs of
• English Language Learners
• Monthly, after-school sessions
• Networking opportunities
• Self-assessment and reflection
• Release Time
• Observations of veterans
• Curriculum/lesson planning
• Diversity Training
• Self-assessment

8
California Standards for the Teaching Profession

• Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning
• Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments
• Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter
• Planning Instruction and Designing Learning
  Experiences
• Assessing Student Learning
• Developing as a Professional Educator

9
Professional Standards PURPOSES

• To provide a common language that describes best
  practice
• To assist the beginning teacher in setting goals
  for professional growth
• To guide the design and implementation of
  professional development experiences
• To link teacher preparation with induction and
  on-going professional development

10
Developmental Continuum ofTeacher Abilities

• To serve as a tool for examining a teachers
  development
• To provide a common language to describe and
  discuss practice
• To assist the beginning teacher in setting goals
  for professional growth

11
New Teacher Retention

• National Statistic
• Estimated average attrition rate -
• 35-50 in the first five years
• SCNTP Statistics
• 94 still in education
• 90 teaching
• 38 in same school
• 72 have assumed leadership roles

1998/99 Retention Study conducted on 1992/93
SCNTP participants
12
Benefits to Veteran Teachers

• Expanded repertoire of teaching strategies
• Increased sense of professional efficacy
• Broader perspective on teaching and learning
• Greater likelihood to emerge in leadership roles
• Increased appreciation for collaboration and
  reflective practice
• Heightened commitment to teaching profession
• Renewed professional vigor

13
Benefits to New Teachers

• Increased sense of professional efficacy
• Stronger skills in working with English Language
  Learners
• Higher retention rate
• Greater job satisfaction
• Improved ability to articulate and document
  professional growth
• More frequent professional collaboration
• Increased willingness to assume leadership roles