Mentoring Newsletter
A guide to working with mentees at your school site
January 2021:
Hello, BPS mentors.
Welcome back! I hope your break was full of well-deserved relaxation. Although our world still might not feel secure, there is a sense of hope in the air. As far as working with new teachers, they are entering the phase where attitudes toward teaching start really looking up. Encourage and celebrate this attitude shift. Here's to a good 2021 for all of us!
We have a new round of hires coming on board within the next few weeks. Please refer to the areas of focus for these new teachers in this year's first newsletter. You can access all newsletters by clicking the induction page link at the bottom of this newsletter.
Some important information: Teachers starting on Jan. 4 require the full first-semester observations, and growth-measure conversation. I know this might be a challenge -- but it is state law. This requirement will actually benefit these new teachers, however, because they will receive a full year of service, plus qualify for pay for performance.Those teachers hired after Jan. 20 are considered short-term.
Please choose a few areas to focus on from the list below:
1. Personal: Write your mentee a โwelcome backโ note and put it on their desk or in their mailbox. If you have a bit of time, try to meet with them within the next few days to debrief the first semester.
2. Professional: Discuss how the mentoring process is working. Make plans for the mentoring relationship for the second semester.
3. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Focus on planning practices. Assist the new teachers in analyzing semester exams and other summative assessment data in order to design and select scaffolding strategies the third quarter.
4. Organizational Systems: The beginning of the second semester is the time to evaluate classroom arrangements, adequacy of resources, success of procedures, use of time, efficiency of routines, and effectiveness of responses to unmet expectations. Help your mentee reflect on these areas.
5. Students: Assist new teachers in developing systems for monitoring progress and being aware of students who may be in danger of failing. Help them set up intervention plans including proactive support systems.
6. Colleagues: A. Update the principal or other administrators on how things are going with your mentee and the mentoring process. B. Ensure that your mentees engage in any opportunities to review student work in departmental, team, or grade level groups.
7. School Systems: A. Discuss with your mentee that after the winter break, routines and procedures will need to be reviewed and practiced again โ almost like the first day of school. B. Discuss the spring standardized-testing schedule.
8. Parents and Community: For new teachers teaching semester courses, revisit the August and September calendars for reminders of communication systems that need to be implemented with the parents of the second semester students.
*Special Educators: Support your mentee in reviewing semester grades and other classroom achievement data. Also, review with your new teacher the IEP dates for the second semester.
As always, thank you so much for all you do. You are the Heart of Brevard! ๐
-Bridget Reed
reed.bridget@brevardschools.org
Breakdown and suggestions taken from Paula Rutherford's Just Ask Publications
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Clinical Educator Training (CET) Registration - Second Semester 2021
CET will be offered as a Blackboard Ultra online course for second semester beginning on January 12, 2021 and ending on March 11, 2021. The course will consist of two modules and three virtual meetings to discuss content and practice skills. Participants will be expected to complete the online coursework and attend all three virtual meetings.
Interested instructional staff, such as teachers, school-based coaches, and school counselors need to complete an application form as part of the CET registration process. CET is considered the first step in our Teacher Leadership Program and will give participants opportunities to build coaching and feedback skills to support new teacher development. The applicant will request the application form, complete it and return it to Linda Buffum, Department of Professional Learning and Development, with principal signature. Completed and signed applications will be considered according to the date received, until the session is filled. Registration will close on Friday, January 8, 2021. Those teachers selected to attend will then be registered in ProGOE and sent a confirmation email.
The following are prerequisites to participate in this training:
ยท Administrative approval
ยท Effective or higher evaluation score on the 2018-19 Summative 2
ยท Completion of 3 years of successful classroom teaching either in Florida or another state
ยท Valid Florida Professional Teaching Certificate (Check the H507 screen in AS400 for certification)
For questions, please contact Linda Buffum at buffum.linda@brevardschools.org or at 321-633-1000 Ext 11262.