It is time to review the schedule for the placement of your session in the AAACE Agenda. This is the final draft of the Schedule. When you look up your name, use the detail listing to check what days/times you asked to be placed. This is a huge program and we can accommodate necessary changes in day and time now, but may not be able to do so after September 1, 2013 except in emergencies. Please carefully check your placement and send any requests to Ginger Phillips, AAACE Conference Planner with AAACE Session Change Request in the subject line. We will respond to your email, but it may take us up to a week to do so. Thanks for your help in "fine tuning" this agenda!
Reflections from the Field: Why New Teacher Mentoring Programs Deserve a Second Look
Type of Presentation
Shared
Session Abstract
This session will combine current research and real world experiences to guide participants in designing, planning, and evaluating new teacher mentor programs.
Target Audience
The primary audiences for this session are school district administrators, curriculum developers, and professional development trainers. This session provides school district professionals with useful information about the types of support and necessary activities new teachers look for in the beginning stages of their career. A secondary audience for this presentation could include individuals from higher education and the corporate sector. Although the results of this study focus on new teacher development, the information received from the study participants could be applicable to mentoring programs in a variety of industries.
Learning Outcomes
Learners will:
1. Engage in a participant-centered, interactive, meaningful, and research-based session.
2. Describe and discuss their individual experiences with mentoring programs.
3. Interpret current research and its relevance and application to their settings.
4. Understand the psychosocial factors that influence the sustainability and success of a mentoring program.
5. Define responsibilities for all stakeholders in a mentoring program.
6. Reflect on how best to use their knowledge, skills, and abilities to increase participant satisfaction in mentoring programs.
7. Have the confidence to develop an action plan that could be discussed with other colleagues and partners in the future.
Session Description
Importance of the presentation:
1. High attrition rates among new teachers are negatively impacting the stability and continuity of school-based instruction.
2. Department of Education federal initiatives (e.g., No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top) as well as district-based mandates have increased the attention and demands on recruiting and supporting high quality teachers.
3. Mentoring programs are a feasible and practical venue to (a) significantly increase teacher retention, (b) increase stability and collegiality in local schools and districts, and (c) create effective strategies to increase new teacher confidence and competencies.
Impact of the presentation:
1. Invaluable findings from a three-year mentoring program will increase the knowledge and understanding among participants in the session.
2. Lessons learned from mentors/mentees will be discussed, including professional (skills development) and psychosocial (support and encouragement) experiences.
3. Data collection and results will foster interest and discussion of viable strategies for mentoring program success.
Efforts are made to try to schedule sessions on the day preferred by the Primary Presenter, though this cannot be guaranteed. Please check your preference.
Thursday November 7