The SABES Professional Development Center For

The SABES Professional Development Center for

Educational Leadership and Strengthening ABE Programs

announces:

Why do ABE Programs need a Comprehensive Orientation/Induction Program for New Teachers?

It improves new teacher effectiveness. New teachers, even K-12 educators, struggle as they adjust to teaching adult learners. Research from K-12 has shown that when teachers engage in a meaningful orientation/inductionprogram that emphasizes reflection and self-assessment, the teacher’s practice becomes more thoughtful, strategic, and effective.
Strong induction programs foster a collaborative culture. Being coached during the beginning years allows new teachers to value continuous learning. New teachers learn toreflect on their teaching practice and valuefeedback.
A comprehensive induction process ultimately benefits students the most. A high quality induction program propels new teachers to become more effective faster with the aid of the Peer Coach and director’s support.
It re- energizes veteran teachers with new ideas and empowers them.

About this Two-Year Opportunity

This multi-year (FY 16 and FY 17) professional development activity is designed to help programs develop a comprehensive induction/orientation process for new teachers.

A critical aspectof this orientation/induction project is to equip one skilledABE teacher from your program with the skills and knowledge to becomean effectivecoach for new staffat yourABE program. Through reflection and dialogue about effective instruction with your program’s Peer Coach, new teachers will gain a deeper insight into their craft and will be better able to meet the needs of their students.

All information shared between the coach and new teachers is confidential and will not be used in an evaluative way.

Peer CoachStipends

A stipend will be provided for two yearsfor one Peer Coach from each program selected for this project. The stipend will be based on the number of new teachers that the Peer Coach will support. Each Peer Coachis able to support a maximum of three new teachers. The stipends in the second year will be a reduced amount due to less time attending trainings.

The stipends for the first year which will be paid at the successful completion of the first year’s activities:

Peer Coach with one new teacher: $2,250 (45 hours)

Peer Coach with two new teachers: $3,050 (61 hours)

Peer Coach with three new teachers: $3,850 (77 hours)

1st Yearstipend will cover:

Attending a 10-hour training, spread over two days(location will be determined after the programs are selected based on the location of these programs);
Meeting (phone or webinar) with the SABES Peer Coaching Project Coordinator,1-2 hours each month;
Meeting two hours per month with each new teacher assigned to this project (maximum of three new teachers);
Providingrequested documentation and evaluation information (including tracking hours andmaintaining logs);
Attendingend of year wrap up meeting.

2nd Year Stipend will cover:

Meeting two hours each month with each new teacher. The Peer Coachwill continue to work with the agreed-upon number of teachers. This may mean continuing to work with teachers from the previous year, or working with a new teacher(s) if circumstances so require or allow.
Meeting two hours per month with the SABES Peer Coaching Project Coordinator

Note: In year two, there will no additional training. Any time the Peer Coachcontributes to related work such as enhancing the ABE program’s staff handbook or orientation program is not included in the stipend; these hours should be supported by the program.

3rd Year – No stipend will be provided:

Upon successful completion of the year, the Peer Coach is eligible to attend an optionaltrain-the-trainer PD offering (approximately 7-10 hours) to be able totrain and supportadditional Peer Coaches at your ABE program. Participation in this PD should be supported by the program. The Peer Coach will be provided with the training materials to use at your program.

The Peer Coach’straining and ongoingmonthly support will help your program‘s Peer Coachto develop strong coaching competencies in order toprovide the appropriate differentiated support to your program’s newteachers. The Peer Coach will help new teachers use reflection and self-assessmentto strengthen their skills, knowledge, andpractice and to encourage professional development that supportstheir professional growth.

Criteria for A New Teacher’s Participation

The teacher receiving Peer Coaching support must be:

Someone in their first year of teaching at your program
Enrolled in the fall “Foundations for New Staff” workshop series – Overview of the Field and the Art of Teaching

Program Selection Criteria

Up to five programs will be selected each year for this two-year project. Selection will be based on the following criteria:

Your program’s willingness to develop/ re-evaluate your program’s induction program for new teachers (including a willingness to revise/update the staff handbook and program based orientation)
Your program’s willingness and ability to:

1)Provide organizational support (encouragement, ensuring that the Peer Coach and new teachers meet monthly, etc.) for the Peer Coaching Project and;

2) Continue providing a comprehensive orientation/induction program for new teachers at the end of the two years of this projectwhen the stipend is no longer provided;

3) Support the evaluation of this project.

Your program’s ability to select an effective Peer Coachfrom the program staff. This coach should be a skillful teacherwho is highly respected for her/his expertise by staff and students at your program,and who possessesover three years of ABE teaching experience. This teacher must also have the personality and capability to be a quality Peer Coach and values professional growth.

Please review the Project Timeline and the Roles and Responsibilities of Participants Chart on the next few pages prior to submitting your program’s application.

SABES Professional Development Center for Educational Leadership and Strengthening ABE Programs

Peer Coaching for New Teachers

Year One Project Timeline

DATES / REQUIREMENTS
Tuesday , September 8, 2015 / Application deadline.
Submit application to: Sue Miller, SABES PD Center for Educational Leadership and Strengthening ABE Programs, Quinsigamond Community College, 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester MA 01606.
August – Early September / Required: New teachers mustcomplete inFoundations for New Staff:Overview of the Field (online course) which starts September 1st. (If any issues contact Sue Miller or Joanne Harrington)
Thursday, September10 , 2015 / Programs notified.
By September 21, 2015 / ABE program directors and Peer Coaches complete and submit contract paperwork.
Thursday, September 24, 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pn / Orientation for Program Directors (Webinar)
This webinar is a 1.5 hour Overview of the Peer Coaching for New ABE Teachers process, requirements of the program, coach, and new teacher.
October – November, 2015 / Required: New teachers mustcomplete Foundations for New Staff: TheArt of Teaching.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
10:00am - 3:30pm / Coach Training, Day 1
Location TBD based on the location of the selected programs.
Between Sessions / Peer Coach Homework
Coach videotapesand self-assesses their own teaching (no one else will see video).
Saturday, November 14, 2015
10:00am - 3:30pm / Coach Training, Day 2
Location TBD based on the locations of the selected programs
November, 2015 / Peer Coaches begin coaching new teachers
November, 2015 – May, 2016 / Peer Coaches meet with new teachers two hours each month providing feedback and resources (may include modeling techniques, co- teaching, writing lesson plans together, and discussing new teacher’s self-assessments from video recordings). Coach and New Teacher should document hours.
November, 2015 – May, 2016 / Peer Coaches have monthly check ins with the SABES’ Project Coordinator (1-2 hours per month)
May, 2016 / Directors and Peer Coaches attend wrap-up meeting.
June, 2016 / Directors, coaches and participants will provide evaluation documentation which will be used to determine how to improve the Peer Coaching for New ABE Teachers.

Year Two Timeline TBD in Spring

Peer Coaching for New Teachers Project

Roles and Responsibilities of Participants

SABES PD Center for
Educational Leadership / Program’s
Peer Coach / New
Teacher / Administrator
/Program / Other
Instructors

Coordinates the Peer Coaching Project
Provides technical assistance to program director, coaches, and new teachers
Provides stipends for Peer Coaches
Shares information and links members with resources
Regularly contacts coaches to check in and provide support
Conducts site visits
Collects journals and evaluations
Evaluates and revises the Peer Coaching program, and new teachers

Assists program director in completing application
Attends 10-hour Peer Coach training
Videotapes teaching and evaluates own teaching using rubric (no one else will see video)
Meets with new teacher(s)to establish clear expectations for Peer Coaching relationships and goals. Reviews roles and responsibilities.
Communicates and meets with new teachers regularly (two hours per month per teacher, November through May)
Orients new teacher(s) to ABE program, and ABE system
Links new teachers to resources (materials, people, and organizations)
Helps new teachers review data and see its possible implications for practice
Facilitates or assists in professional development of new teachers
Models continual professional growth
Assists new teachers in designing their own professional development goals
Assists in the evaluation of the Peer CoachingProject
Reflects on the process in a journal (3-6 responses)
Documents coaching hours for evaluation purposes
Maintains the confidentiality of the coaching relationship
Submitsevaluation documentation to SABES

Completes self-assessment to determine areas in which the coach can provide support
Meets with coach to develop clear expectations for coaching experience
Communicates and meets with coach regularly, (two hours per month per teacher, November through May). Note: program prep or PD time may be used
Videotapes teaching and self-assesses strengths and areas that can be enhanced
Develops own PD goals for the year
Reflects on the teaching and growth process in a journal (3-6 responses)
Documents coaching hours for evaluation purposes
Participates in the evaluation of the coaching system

Reviews/ revises program’s teacher handbook and new teacher induction program (e.g. to include Peer Coaching or other policies and procedures to support new teachers)
Supports on-site coaching support from SABES
Participates in the Orientation Webinar
Promotes and supports Peer Coaching Project at program
Recruits, selects, and matches Peer Coach with new teacher(s) at program
Ensures that new teachers complete the Art of Teaching in the Fall
Respects the confidentiality of the peer-coach relationship
Supervises (performs observations and reviews lesson plans) and evaluates new teachers independently from Peer Coaching Program
Meets regularly with Peer Coach and new teachers for updates on project and progress
Mediates any difficulties/conflicts between the Peer Coach and new teacher
Provides feedback for the evaluation of the project
Supports the continuation of the comprehensive induction program at the conclusion of two years

Assist in creating a supportive teaching environment in the program
Provide support to new teacher

SABES Professional Development Center for Educational Leadership and Strengthening ABE Programs

Peer Coaching for New Teachers Project

Application Form

Application deadline: Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Name of Program:______

Name of Director: ______Email: ______

Director’s Telephone Number: ______

Number of new teachers who will receive coaching in FY16: ______ESOL ______ABE

(Note: Maximum of three new teachers will be eligible to work with the coach. Programs with additional new teachers will need to select the teachers that are most in need)

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Name of the Peer Coach:______

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip code: ______

Phone (best number to be reached): ______

Email: ______

Educational Background/Degree(s) ______

Number of Years ABE Teaching Experience ______

Please submit the resume of the Peer Coachwith the application package

Please address Program selection criteria (page 3) when addressing the following questions:

1. Why is your program interested in participating in the Peer Coaching for New Staff Project? (Please briefly explain what the program currently has in place to support new teachers)

2. What qualities does the Peer Coach possess which will allow him/her to be successful in this role? (Please describe the Peer Coach’s informal or formal experience supporting or helping teachers and specify how the Peer Coach is a reflective practitioner who values professional growth)

3) What are your Program’s plans to institutionalize a comprehensive induction program at the conclusion of this project?

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We have reviewed the Program Selection Criteria and the ParticipantRoles and Responsibilities and agree to our full participation in this project. We agree to provide requested information to help with the project’s evaluation. All information shared between the coach and new teachers is confidential and will not be used in an evaluative way.

Peer Coach’s Signature ______

Date ______

Director’s Signature ______

Date ______

Application Due Tuesday , September 8, 2015

If you have any questions please contact Sue Miller at or call 508 854-4513

Please send application package to:

Sue Miller, QCC, 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606

SABES Professional Development Center for Educational Leadership and Strengthening ABE Programs