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formal program — and paired with This collaboration pro- puter technician to secure network ac-
an effective, trained colleague — cess for the employee’s key fob, laptop,
for one full school year. Moreover, motes consistency of and email, ensuring the teacher feels
the New Jersey Department of program initiatives welcomed. Induction Specialists also
Education has provided districts with while ensuring state work to sustain the new teacher long
a comprehensive toolkit to assist in after their arrival, often sharing their
the design of local mentoring plans mandates are followed, classroom during preparation periods
to ensure specific interventions are and that all forms and to lend an empathetic and confidential
in place. Mentoring programs are the ear. Induction Specialists, who are fa-
central component of comprehensive related materials — miliar with the techniques of active lis-
induction programs many districts even the mentoring plan tening, often find new staff members
provide to novices throughout this itself — are regularly in their rooms before classroom obser-
early adjustment period. Recent vations and parent conferences, when
research has shown that high quality reviewed and updated. new teacher anxiety levels can peak.
mentoring programs can significantly Understanding the importance of a
improve staff retention rates (Ronfeldt this event to be a “great opportunity to strong collegial network, many Induc-
& McQueen, 2017). connect.” In August, there are two full tion Specialists make a deliberate effort
days of orientation featuring evaluation to send out invitations to school events
Multi-Layered Induction and workshops and interactive trainings — encouraging staff to connect with the
Mentoring addressing local policies and proce- larger school community and become,
In an effort to face this challenge, the dures. This is also when new teachers as one Induction Specialist described
meet their mentor, and spend some
it, “part of the family.” Perhaps most
Freehold Regional High School District valuable time getting to know their importantly, the Induction Specialists
(FRHSD) has designed and implement- school’s Induction Specialist. remind every new teacher to make time
ed a multi-layered mentoring program, for themselves, apart from their profes-
which forms the core of its induction ef- The Induction Specialist: sional obligations, knowing the value of
forts. This program is facilitated through Mentoring Hub rest for rejuvenation.
a sustained district-wide collaboration
between central office administration At FRHSD, Induction Specialists Organizational Commitment
and internal program coordinators are experienced teacher leaders
who work closely with the new teach- who have demonstrated mastery in It is through this position — Induction
ers and their mentors. Specifically, the their instructional practice. Induction Specialist — that the organizational
Personnel Director works directly with Specialists are appointed annually, commitment to the mentoring program
the Induction Coordinator, who is an paid a stipend, and provided release has been most clearly expressed at
expert teacher leader, who is provided time from other duties to perform their FRHSD. It is through their daily efforts
a stipend with release time from duties related responsibilities. They provide and advocacy on behalf of new staff
to serve as a liaison between the central ongoing support for novice teachers that the mentoring program has be-
office and the schools. This collabora- by participating in the August orienta- come inextricably sewn into the fabric
tion promotes consistency of program tion, conducting six after-school New of the district’s culture. These efforts
initiatives while ensuring state mandates Staff Meetings throughout the school have not gone unnoticed by the new
are followed, and that all forms and year, and assisting new teachers in staff. Last year over 96% of FRHSD
related materials — even the mentoring reflecting on their practice. Addition- new teachers surveyed indicated that
plan itself — are regularly reviewed and ally, Induction Specialists recruit and their Induction Specialist “often an-
updated. In order to assure all aspects train mentors, providing them with ticipated my needs as a new teacher
of the program are responsive to its research-based professional learning and provided help and information in
participants, there is an annual evalua- experiences and up-to-date resources. needed areas.” That same survey re-
tion survey used to elicit feedback. Any They match mentors with novices, vealed that new teachers viewed their
changes are put into place at the outset collect mentor logs and payments, and Induction Specialist as a “daily support
of the next year’s mentoring calendar. otherwise act as a liaison between the system” and someone who “has gone

At FRHSD, each year’s induction new teacher and the mentor, supervi- above and beyond, providing me with
books tailored toward my areas of
sor, principal, Induction Coordinator,
events start in June with a pre-service and central office administration. improvement.” Organizational com-
Meet and Greet event with the Super- mitment as well as financial support
intendent and the Executive Student In addition to their required duties, In- have both been shown to be critical
Cabinet. All new staff are invited to duction Specialists proactively prepare if a mentoring program is to achieve
this networking event. Expectations for the arrival of each new teacher. its goals (Kochan, Searby, George, &
are set, and reading materials related They work with building administration Edge, 2015; Smith & Ingersoll 2004).
to the staff evaluation model and to purposefully pair new teachers with Specifically, the decision to allocate
reflective practices are shared so that the most appropriate mentor based on personnel resources to, in order to
staff have all summer to peruse and curriculum and classroom management support and nurture the healthy growth
prepare. Last year’s attendees found expertise. They connect with the com- and development of the mentor/nov-

Educational Viewpoints -19- Spring 2019