leadership in high schools

All probationary teachers are provided with a mentor to assist them in their transition to full time, tenure track positions.  This is a valuable state initiative aimed at retaining and growing effective, professional teachers who are committed to their professions. 

This year with all the new teacher recruits, it is imperative that mentors be assigned early so as to provide all the time and assistance necessary for nurturing teachers.  New teachers are overwhelmed with all the demands and new information that hits them all at the same time – IEP writing, parent meetings, parent complaints, team meetings with related service professionals like counselors who help forge contacts with parents and home schools.  These are just some of the few requirements for the job.  This does not include lesson planning, curriculum development, searching for instructional resources on the internet etc. 

The mentorship programs schools new teachers in the culture of a school, the profession and how it relates to the demands of the job.  Mentorship programs provide individual teachers with valueable lessons that are true and tried regarding how to balance work and home, how to time manage, how to manage classroom behaviors etc.

At the Hewes Center this afternoon, Jim Hedlund teacher Union Rep., met with the District Superintendent Bob Guiffreda and Director, Danielle OConnor to push forth the need to immediately place new teachers with mentors.  I added to this call by mentioning that I am reluctant to formally evaluate new teachers until they are officially appointed a mentor who can add to my teaching and administrative mentoring of new teachers. 

I feel fortunate that many like myself at the Hewes Center are determined to ensure that we give all our new teachers all the necessary tools that they need in order to be successful.  This includes empathizing with them, hearing of their first year struggles and helping them through their tough times.  The reception for new staff this afternoon was well attended with punch and cookies to ease conversation and camaraderie.  I was happy to see folks mingle and share with each other.  Yet another sign of a great school year that is in store for us all.