New Teacher Mentoring

All teachers in the first two years of their careers in CUSD will be assigned a district level mentor and mentoring group. Veteran teachers that are passionate about the next generation of teachers, and have chosen to take part in this program, receive training specific to coaching you during the early years of your practice. Below are some structures that are in place for the new teacher mentoring program.

Resources

New general education teachers will receive a copy of The First Years Matter by Dr. Carole Radford. This book is designed to guide your small group sessions and to be a reference for you during the first 3 years of your career. Those in CTE also receive books designed to assist the new CTE teacher with the requirements of the program. Our new special education teachers receive monthly training in year 1 and bimonthly training in year 2 to help support the many requirements of your role.

Groups

Studies show that the newest generation of teachers are looking for a supportive group of colleagues during their career. When assigned a mentor, the new teacher is placed in a group of 3-5 that will work together during monthly meetings. This helps build networks and supports as you embark on this new adventure.

Buddy

Mentors may or may not be on your campus, and they are designed to guide you in good teaching practice. Buddies serve a different purpose and will be assigned on a campus to help you answer everyday questions. They can help you understand the culture of the campus, how the copier works, and where to park. The purpose of a buddy is to provide an additional point of contact to help you build connections within your campus community.

Professional Growth

New teachers' needs are different than those that have been in the classroom a while. CUSD has developed an opportunity that takes place once each semester to focus on new teacher needs such as classroom management, engagement strategies, work/life balance, utilizing technology, and requirements specific to your placement. Our special education teachers are provided professional growth during their release days.