Quincy School District #172 - Quincy (FY 07)

Grantee: Quincy School District #172
Location: Quincy, IL
Name: QPS Teacher Mentor Project
Partners: QPS, Quincy Federation of Teachers, IL Federation of Teachers, ROE, and Quincy University

History and Overview:

• The model encompasses four goals: Reduce teacher attrition, increase cost effectiveness, increase teacher success/satisfaction, and increase student achievement.

• Activities are aligned with state teaching standards and fall into three categories: professional development, support, and formative assessment.

• The project will be coordinated by a Teacher Mentor Team made up of stakeholders who will assist coordinators and meet monthly.

Program Design:

• Sixteen mentors will support 32 new teachers.

• Teachers will have a 2 day orientation in August.

• Teachers will be observed by mentors 3-5 times (in person or via video tape) throughout the year with pre and post discussions.

• Teachers will observe their mentor 1-2 times during the year with pre and post discussions.

• Teachers will meet weekly with mentors to collaborate and reflect.

• New teachers and mentors will share a “Dialogue Journal” to track progress. Mentors will respond to journals at least quarterly.

• Teachers will have group monthly meetings for ongoing training.

• Mentors and administrators will participate in an initial, formal training. Training will continue in monthly after school “Community of Mentoring Practice” meetings.

• Teachers will develop an Individual Induction Plan.

• Mentors will have release time for observations and meetings (not full time release).

• When possible, mentors and teachers will have the same scheduled planning times and will work in the same building.

• Mentors are required to be experienced, successful teachers; preference will be given to teachers with tenure and/or who hold a Master's degree.

• Teachers will also participate in district-wide professional development, including in-service and four days of Institute training.

• Mentors and teachers will receive stipends for their time spent after school.

Program Goals:

• Develop new teachers' understanding of state professional and content area standards

• Develop a repertoire of research-based instructional practices for new teachers

• Develop collegial friendships and networks

• Develop self-assessment skills

• Create an effective and smooth transition for teachers from student to teaching professional

• Improve and maximize student achievement

Program Evaluation:

• Formative tools will include:

• Dialogue journal

• Feedback forms

• Individual Induction Plan

• Lesson Plans and teacher-generated instructional materials

• Student feedback surveys

• The evaluation will include:

• A study of teacher retention and length of employment with the district or in another district

• Percent of new teachers who are rated satisfactory or excellent on their summative evaluation compared to the previous year's data

• Savings realized in the cost of recruiting new teachers due to increased retention

• Results/benefits regarding new teacher satisfaction and perceived sense of support, compared to last year's data. This will be determined by a comparison of teacher surveys conducted in the Spring of 2006 and the Spring of 2007.

Key Contact:

Patricia Sullivan Viniard
217-223-8700
sullivpa@qps.org