Since School Year
2000-2001, Somerset County Public Schools has supported teachers new to the
schools. Whether just beginning in the profession, or experienced yet new to
SCPS, teachers in their first or second years in SCPS classrooms have been
given the support of mentors.
In-school peer mentors are
available each day. Retired teacher educators also provide support. Their
role is support rather than evaluation. Confidentiality is the rule.
The 2 goals of the
mentoring program are: 1) to keep our effective new teachers; and, 2) to
increase student achievement in the classrooms of our new teachers.
It is acknowledged that the
process of learning to teach is not complete when a beginning teacher is hired
for a position in a classroom. That learning requires at least two years.
Help is needed; this mentoring program is meant to help in that process for
beginning teachers.
Students in the classrooms
of beginning teachers can be at an advantage by having teachers with the most
up-to-date knowledge in teaching and in their respective subject areas.
Often, they are young and able to relate well to their students. Their
students also can be at a disadvantage, through no fault of their own or of
the new teachers, due to a new teacher's lack of extensive experience. As the
new teachers are supported in their development, it is believed that students
will derive the direct benefits, and their achievement will increase. Our
experience in this mentoring program supports that view; SCPS has been able to
retain over 75% of its newly-hired teachers.
Many in-school mentor peer
teachers have been given specific training through a Maryland State Department
of Education (MSDE) course. They, and the many master teachers who have
served as mentors through the years, are to be commended for their commitment
to the new teachers, the system and our profession.
The retired
teacher-educators who currently serve new teachers are Charles Simpson,
visiting new teachers at the elementary schools and Somerset Intermediate, and
Sharon Clark, visiting new teachers at the academies and high schools.
Mr. Lawson, who recognized
the need for this program in 2000 and wrote the original grant proposal to
MSDE, continues to monitor its success. He reports that teachers aspiring to
teach in SCPS usually ask, during their interviews, if mentor help is
available to them after being hired. Thus, beginning teachers recognize the
value of mentoring for new teachers.
Mr. Lawson, and all of us
who work in the mentoring program, invite your evaluations and comments.
Forms below are available for that purpose.
Administrator Feedback Form
Mentoring Program:
"Breathe Your Wind Beneath Its Wings" 