Educator Support System a Great Resource for New Teachers

The District's New Educator Support System (NESS) is a site-based induction program that provides mentoring and coaching to new educators. The NESS School Liaison and the Building Level Administrator collaborate to develop the program that will best support the new educators at their site. Schools individualize the NESS program to meet the specific needs of their new educators even before pre-planning days begin in August.

Listed below are some examples of the innovative practices that schools have implemented to better prepare and retain the new educators at their site.

• Hollywood Hill High School (Joyce Ferguson, Principal)
All newly hired teachers at Hollywood Hills High School attend the first week of New Teacher Academy (NTA). During the following week, the teachers attend a four-day staff development event at the school to become familiar with the school's culture, review concepts taught at NTA, organize their classrooms and develop classroom rules and procedures. The new educators receive their teaching schedules and room assignments and have ample time to review teacher's manuals and student textbooks to develop lesson plans for the first two weeks of school. This approach enables new teachers to be better prepared for the school year and alleviates pressure during pre-planning days, when they need time to focus on the required department and faculty meetings.

• Olsen Middle School (Kim Flynn, Principal)
All new educators at Olsen Middle attend the New Teacher Academy (NTA) prior to August pre-planning days. Olsen has established a well-organized orientation that is held before the teachers report back to school. The new educators meet all the support staff and also receive their room keys. To promote the communication process, the NESS School Liaison distributes monthly newsletters focused on new teacher issues and concerns. In addition, new educators participate in the "Olsen Academy" during the fall on Saturdays. The academy goes more in depth and expands the practical application in the areas of classroom management, ESOL strategies and ESE accommodations. In addition, each early release day there is a 45 minute round table with new educators before the staff development activity begins, so they may discuss any issues or concerns in a safe and comfortable environment.

• Coconut Creek High School (John Bowen, Principal)
As a means of promoting professional collaboration and providing a network of support for new educators during their first term at Coconut Creek High School, Mr. Bowen meets weekly with them. These gatherings are informal, informative and relevant. The principal also invites District and in-house guest speakers to share relevant information and resources, as well as to share best practices and lessons learned by second year teachers. Even the students show their support for the new teachers by adding a little spice to the meetings. On one occasion, Haitian Club student members made several authentic entrees from the island that truly wowed the teachers.

• Sanders Park Elementary (Robert Gibson, Principal)
Sanders Park Elementary School values the collaboration between the instructional coach and its new teachers. As a way of sharing and showcasing best practices, as well as encouraging reflective practice, each new educator (with the support of their instructional coach and teacher coach) creates a portfolio to demonstrate mastery of the state competencies.

To learn more about NESS and how it can assist your school in acclimating new educators, please call Mary Beckwith in Human Resource Development at 954-382-6250.