The Retired Mentor Program, sponsored by Chicago Public Schools

GOLDEN Teachers and NRTA:AARP’s Educator Community, with support from the Retired Teachers

Association of Chicago (RTAC), utilizes retired CPS teachers to mentor Year One teachers and assist in their transition to the teaching profession. Year One teachers in participating schools will receive one half day of support for twenty weeks throughout the school year from a retired mentor, who will act in the following support roles:

1. Observing 1st year teachers and providing mentoring

2. Providing ongoing feedback to teachers 3. Completing online interaction logs 4. Providing technical support for lesson

planning and unit development 5. Team teaching 6. Providing assistance with individual and

small group instruction 7. Providing release time for peer observation.

For more information about the CPS Golden Teachers Program visit www.goldenteachers.cps.k12.il.us or

contact

Greg Stapleton Golden Teachers Mentor Team Leader

Simeon Career Academy 8147 S. Vincennes Chicago, IL 60620

gestapleton@cps.k12.il.us

CPS Golden Teachers Program Overview and Goals

GOLDEN Teachers emphasizes the use of

reflective practice and analysis, and is aligned with the Illinois Professional

Teaching Standards. The program addresses the following CPS Education Plan

Goals: Goal 1: CPS will provide students with differentiated, engaging, and challenging curriculum and strong instructional programs in the early childhood, primary, intermediate, middle, and high school grades. CPS schools will develop students' basic skills, ensuring that students have high levels of literacy, mathematics, and science proficiency as well as the writing, technological, and problem-solving skills that they need to reach standards and be successful in today's economy and society. Goal 2: CPS will develop innovative and rigorous approaches to recruiting, developing, supporting, retaining, and rewarding high quality teaching and leadership. Principals and teachers in Chicago schools will be recognized as leaders in the field. Goal 3: CPS schools will have strong communities of learning where teams of teachers work with the Principal and other school staff to create a work and school environment of problem-solving, innovation, reflection on practice, and collaborative professional development to design and implement effective instructional programs.

By completing this 2-year program, new teachers fulfill a major component of the State requirements for advancing from an Initial Teaching Certificate to a Standard Certificate.

GOLDEN Teachers meets the Illinois State Board of Education's (House Bill 1436, Public Act 92-0796 effective July 2003) and CPS Board Report 03-1022-PO03's mandate for a new teacher induction and mentoring program to support all new teachers

Mentor Responsibilities A mentor is responsible for the following:

• To help new teachers transition to CPS while learning basic policies, routines, procedures, paperwork, working with parents/guardians, recordkeeping/grading, adapting to school culture, etc.

• Nurture mentor-new teacher relationship by establishing a climate of peer support, modeling reflective teaching practices, and sharing effective classroom strategies.

• A minimum of 4 observations - 1 per quarter - that include pre and post observation conferences:

• 3 observations - the new teacher is observed by mentor

• 1 observation - the new teacher observes either the mentor or another exemplary teacher

• Submitting on GTO verification of a minimum of 6 hours of interactions with Year One teachers per quarter (includes 1 observation)

• Attending 2 mentor seminars (required by ISBE) - register for these on Golden Teachers Online (GTO)

• Providing awareness of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards

Year One Teacher Responsibilities The following chart describes the responsibilities and types of support provided to Year one teachers. Year One Teacher

Less than one year teaching experience with an Initial Certificate or Provisional

Alternative Certificate GOLDEN Teachers Orientation yes

Classroom Observations yes Mentor Interactions yes Professional Development yes Networking Activities optional

The Golden Teachers Mentor Team is made up of First Year Mentors, Second Year Coaches, as well as a few other teachers that are interested in helping new faculty and staff members. The role of this team is to assist new faculty in becoming an active part of the Simeon. This team will work on the goal of creating a Professional Learning Community, by engaging in collaborative meetings and professional development. As we head into the 2005-2006 school year the Golden Teachers Mentor Team has created the following goals:

1. Coordinate Mentors and Coaches to formulate plans for new teachers to make the transition to Simeon’s work culture.

2. Produce handouts for new teachers that

will provide various information about Simeon that help them be successful in their new environment.

3. Create and Conduct a series of

Professional Development sessions for first and second year teachers.

Coach Responsibilities A coach is responsible for the following:

• Facilitate meetings twice a quarter to assist Year Two teachers with their IGP

• Coordinate observations for Year Two teachers • Two observations during GOLDEN Teachers-

Year Two, must be documented on GTO that include: o Year Two teacher observing a colleague or coach o Year Two teacher observed by a colleague or

coach • Throughout the year, nurture a community of

learners among Year Two teachers • Provide awareness of Illinois Professional

Teaching Standards • Attend coach seminars provided by GOLDEN

Teachers (required by ISBE) - register for these on GOLDEN Teachers Online (GTO)

Second Year Teacher Responsibilities Individual Growth Plan The Individual Growth Plan (IGP) is used to complete the requirements of the second year portion of GOLDEN Teachers. The plan includes a goal statement, documentation of professional development and analysis and reflection. Coach Interactions & Peer Observations Teachers meet with a coach twice a quarter to engage in reflective practice within a community of professional learners, and participate in 2 peer observations within GOLDEN Teachers-Year Two. Coaches document observations on GTO. Program Completion Upon completion of the first-year component and all components of the IGP, teachers will have met requirements of the two-year GOLDEN Teachers Program, and will have been introduced to a process of reflective practice that sets the tone for a continuing process of inquiry, self-discovery, and increased responsibility to improve teaching and impact student learning.

Simeon Demonstration Project Goal Addressed & Golden Teachers Mentor Team Goals