Leading the Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program

by Barry W. Sweeny

Overview

"A must-read for anyone interested in ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of teacher induction and mentoring. Sweeny mentors the reader by sharing details from his two decades of developing and leading high-impact mentoring programs. I′ve improved my own effectiveness by employing these insightful strategies."
—Hal Portner, Educational Consultant
Author of Mentoring New Teachers

"Offers many suggestions and guiding principles for organizing mentoring programs and succinctly addresses many complex issues of program development and interpersonal relationships in mentoring roles. There is so much information in an easy-to-read, direct presentation."
—Lori Helman, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Develop a high-impact training and mentoring program that strengthens teacher and student performance!

While resources are abundant for helping the mentor and the new teacher, very little has been written to guide the leaders of teacher and mentor development. In Leading the Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program, Second Edition, Barry W. Sweeny provides an effective, proven model for developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining an induction and mentoring program that results in highly qualified teachers.

A nationally known mentoring expert, the author offers comprehensive guidance and a wealth of practical strategies that allow leaders to support mentors and novice teachers and to promote school improvement and professional development initiatives. Extensively revised to include the latest research, this second edition:

• Presents step-by-step directions for each part of the program development and implementation process
• Links induction and mentoring to districtwide goals for improved teaching practice and increased student achievement
• Includes sample schedules, templates, and reproducible forms
• Provides solid recommendations for avoiding pitfalls and increasing program effectiveness

Ideal for principals, district administrators, teacher trainers, and mentor leaders, this resource offers essential tools for designing and implementing a new induction and mentoring program or improving an existing one.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452293806
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	08/01/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
File size:	40 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Barry W. Sweeny is the president of Best Practice Resources, Inc. an independent educational consulting firm in Wheaton, Illinois. He has been a consultant, facilitator, trainer, and author, as well as a presenter and keynoter at educational conferences. Mr. Sweeny’s specialty is the development of teacher mentoring and induction programs and practices that result in high quality instruction and increased student learning. Barry has trained thousands of mentors and administrators, and helped develop or improve hundreds of programs in school districts, professional associations and collaboratives, universities, regional agencies, community and governmental agencies, and businesses. His “High Impact” model of induction and mentoring is used all over the world for accomplishing the goals of supporting and guiding new teachers into the profession AND for creating programs that help districts accomplish their strategic initiatives. Barry is also known for his role in founding the ASCD Mentoring Leadership and Resource Network and is a Director Emeritus of the International Mentoring Association. In addition, Barry has worked in school improvement, peer coaching, staff development, and performance-based teaching, learning, and assessment. Previously, he was an award-winning classroom teacher for 22 years, a district staff developer and mentor program coordinator, and a program development manager at two regional offices of education.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Mentoring Questions Leaders Want Answered
Defining Mentoring, Induction, and Peer Coaching
The Increasing Importance of Mentoring and Induction
The Compelling Rationale for Mentoring and Induction
1. Getting Off to the Right Start
Differences Make All the Difference
Using a Model of Teacher Development to Guide Program and Practice
The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM)
Assessing and Using Data on New Teacher Needs
Three Concepts Essential for Program Success
The Big Picture: The High Impact Program Components
2. The Program Design Process
Design From the Destination
The First Step: Establish a Program Leadership Group
The Next Step: Identify a Program Coordinator
Roles of the Mentor Program Coordinator
The Sequence for Creating a Successful Program
Deciding the Sequence for Implementing Program Components
Defining Program Purposes, Goals, and Objectives
A Summary
3. Induction Structures for Effective New Teacher Development
Components for a High-Impact Induction Program
The Evolving Picture of Your Protégés
Using the CBAM to Design Induction
Designing an Effective Initial Orientation
Protégé Training
Protégé Observations of Expert Practitioners
Protégé Peer Support
Protégé Reflective Practice and the Professional Standards
Use of Professional Development Goals, Plans, and Portfolios
The Mentor in the Middle
Working Toward the Ideal Induction Program Model
4. Providing the Time for Effective Mentoring
Full- or Part-Time Mentoring?
Finding and Making Time for Mentoring
5. Designing Components of a High-Impact Mentoring Program
Roles and Tasks of the Ideal Mentor
Roles and Tasks of Protégés
Roles and Tasks of Site Administrators
Mentor Recruitment
Mentor Selection and Mentor-Protege Matching
How Does a Balanced Selection and Matching Process Work?
Matching Mentors and Protégés
Dealing With a Mentor-Protégé MISmatch
Mentor Support After Training
Mentoring of Mentors: Program Leader Support of Mentors
Mentor Incentives and Recognition
6. Designing a High-Impact Mentor Training
Who Should Lead Mentor Training?
What Are the Themes for High-Impact Mentor Training?
What Is the Sequence for Content and Activities in Mentor Training?
What Follow Up Support Is Needed to Ensure Mentor Implementation of Training?
7. Evaluating, Improving, and Sustaining the Program
The Program Evaluation Learning Agenda
Using the Research Showing Induction’s Impact on Results
Basic Evaluation Knowledge
Designing an Evaluation Process and Plan
Demonstrating Compelling Return on Investment From Induction
Other Strategies for Supporting and Sustaining the Program
Resources
I. Internet&Organization Resources for Mentoring
II. Mentor Training Activity: Practice in Identification of CBAM Stages of Concern
III. Mentor Practice Scenarios: Ending Your Conversations
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"An excellent resource for anyone wishing to develop a model for new teachers aimed at strengthening teacher and student performance. The step-by-step approach will particularly assist those who are trying to set up effective programs from scratch and don't have time to search the Internet for resource material. "

Top Mentor Publications

“A must-read for anyone interested in ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of teacher induction and mentoring. Sweeny mentors the reader by sharing details from his two decades of developing and leading high-impact mentoring programs. I’ve improved my own effectiveness by employing these insightful strategies.”

Hal Portner

"Offers many suggestions and guiding principles for organizing mentoring programs and succinctly addresses many complex issues of program development and interpersonal relationships in mentoring roles. There is so much information in an easy-to-read, direct presentation. "

Lori Helman

"A very practitioner-oriented book that will be useful to leaders, program planners, and mentors in their work with new teachers. This book takes school leaders through the process of creating and sustaining an induction and mentoring program, challenging the reader to think beyond initial, short-term goals to a wider, long-term vision. "

Carol A. Bartell