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Ontario Government Introduces First Mentoring and On-The-Job Induction
Program for New Teachers
TORONTO, Oct. 4 /CNW/ - A new era of professional support will better
prepare and retain new teachers in the classroom and help boost student
achievement, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy said today.
"We have some of the best teachers in the country, but we were giving
them the shortest amount of training time," said Kennedy during a visit with
new teachers on the eve of World Teachers' Day. "This program will complement
their formal one-year training with another full year of on-the-job training,
mentoring and assessment and the result will be better prepared and more
confident teachers to deal with the demands of the classroom."
The government is introducing a second step in teachers' professional
development by requiring that every new teacher receive the New Teacher
Induction Program in their first year of teaching. The $15 million program
will be available to Ontario's approximately 10,000 new teachers each year.
The program gives teachers, as well as students and parents, the assurance
that beginning teachers will get the assistance they require to effectively
translate their initial training and commitment into success in the province's
classrooms.
The five essential components include:
- On-the-job training in areas such as classroom management, effective
parent communication skills and instructional strategies that
address the learning and cultural needs of aboriginal students,
students at risk, special education students and second-language
learners
- Mentoring for new teachers by experienced teachers
- If passed by the Legislature, two evaluations conducted by
principals to replace the previous ineffective and expensive pen and
paper teacher qualifying test
- Orientation for all new teachers by the school and school board
- If approved by the Legislature, new accountability and reporting
measures to ensure that every new teacher is able to undertake the
induction program
"We are determined to continue to reverse the trend of losing too many
qualified teachers in their first few years of teaching," said Kennedy.
"Our ambition is to give teachers the best professional support at the
right time in their career to help them keep pace with student needs."
According to the Ontario College of Teachers' review of Ontario Teachers'
Pension Plan data, between 1993 and 1999, there was an attrition rate of
22-33 per cent during the first three years for all new teachers. The most
common reason cited for leaving is lack of support to adjust to the demands of
the classroom.
The retention of teachers appears to be improving according to a
longitudinal study conducted by the Ontario College of Teachers.
"Entering the classroom as a first-time teacher can be scary. Having an
experienced teacher available to support me will help me ensure my students
succeed," said first-year teacher Kathy Irvine, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic
School.
"That's why I was really pleased when the Minister asked me to work on
the design of this support program for teachers."
"Providing effective supports to new teachers is critical for teacher and
student success," said Harold Brathwaite, co-chair of the government's Working
Table on Teacher Development and Chair of the Retired Teachers of Ontario.
"The New Teacher Induction Program is the result of a collaborative
effort between the government and education stakeholders."
"Ontario's students deserve the greatest possible opportunity for
success," said Kennedy. "Ontario can become the best learning jurisdiction by
making it the best jurisdiction to teach in."
Disponible en français.
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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NEW "SECOND STEP" IN TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BIG STEP FORWARD IN CLASSROOM EXCELLENCE
The Ontario government is providing new teachers with a substantial
learning program during their first year of teaching, starting this school
year.
The program gives beginning teachers the support they need to turn their
initial training and commitment into success in the province's classrooms.
Beginning teachers consistently rate items like classroom management and
reporting and communicating with parents as high on their needs for
professional development.
- Ontario College Of Teachers' Report: Transition To Teaching 2004
Beginning teachers want to be mentored: mentoring programs for new
teachers was rated by beginning teachers as the 4th most desirable
education initiative (out of 13).
- Ontario College of Teachers' State of the Teaching Profession 2005
Annual Survey: Implications for Supports for New Teachers
The New Teacher Induction Program
The New Teacher Induction Program applies to certified teachers who are
hired permanently for the first time as a teacher in Ontario's publicly funded
schools, ordinarily in the year following graduation from a faculty of
education.
The program will take the form of an enhanced development program,
designed with five essential components:
- On-the-job training in areas such as classroom management, effective
parent communication skills and instructional strategies that
address the learning and cultural needs of aboriginal students,
students at risk, special education students and second-language
learners
- Mentoring for new teachers by experienced teachers
- Orientation for all new teachers by the school and school board
- If passed by the Ontario Legislature, two evaluations conducted by
principals to replace the ineffective and expensive pen and paper
teacher qualifying test
- Also, if passed by the Legislature, new accountability and reporting
measures to ensure that every new teacher is able to complete the
induction program
These elements will be supported by $15 million in new resources that
will be made available to school boards this October. One proposed source of
funding is the $9 million in total savings from cancelling the ineffective pen
and paper Ontario Teacher Qualifying Test (OTQT), which was introduced by the
previous government. The test was passed by 98 per cent of Ontario education
faculty graduates.
Additional savings will be found through sustained teacher retention.
According to an Ontario College of Teachers' review of Ontario Teachers'
Pension Plan data, between 1993 and 1999, there was an attrition rate of
22-33 per cent during the first three years for all new teachers. More than
$30 million in savings could have been achieved if those teachers had been
retained. The most common reason cited for leaving is lack of support to
adjust to the demands of the classroom. The retention of teachers appears to
be improving according to a longitudinal study conducted by the Ontario
College of Teachers.
Through legislation that will be put before the provincial parliament for
its approval in the new session, the government proposes to formally require
that all school boards would offer the program and keep track of teachers'
successful completion of it through a notation on the Ontario College of
Teachers' record. The legislation, if passed, would also cancel the less
effective OTQT that new teachers are required to write to become certified,
and modify teacher performance appraisals to make them more useful to early
teacher development.
More Support is Good for Teachers and Great for Students
Ontario has excellent teachers, but the majority have shorter
professional training (following a university degree) than found in most other
provinces.
According to the Ontario College of Teachers, the quality of teaching is
the largest, single variable in student learning. Teachers themselves indicate
that certain key areas such as classroom management, special education and
literacy and numeracy are only partly covered by their university or
pre-service training.
Mentoring Programs
The New Teacher Induction Program's design is based on research on new
teacher development in jurisdictions around the world and on best practices
from 21 demonstration projects. The demonstration projects, which began in the
fall of 2004, supported more than 3,000 new teachers in 21 school boards
across the province and explored a variety of approaches to new teacher
development.
I understand that many teachers feel "run ragged" during their first
year. I felt busy and under pressure at many times. But in a manner
that was calm, reassuring and supportive, my mentors consistently
provided me with guidance and assistance thereby increasing my own
confidence and reducing my anxiety. By doing so they also enhanced my
effectiveness within the classroom and the school community.
- Katie Racey, Teacher, District School Board of Niagara Participant in
DSBN Mentoring Program, one of 21 funded by the Ministry of Education
New Era in Education
The government is working in partnership with the education sector on
more effective, meaningful professional development for all teachers and has
circulated a discussion paper to the sector. The government has also taken a
number of additional steps to bring peace and stability to Ontario's publicly
funded schools and support higher student achievement. These include:
- Repealing the divisive Professional Learning Program
- Providing funding to hire 4,300 additional teachers since coming to
office (2,400 for two years of class size reduction, 600
elementary specialist teachers and 1,300 student success teachers
this year)
- Targeted resources and specialized training for teachers to help
improve young students' reading, writing and math skills
- Student success leaders in every school board and student success
teachers in every school to help struggling high school students and
share best practices with other boards to help lower the
unacceptably high dropout rate
- An Education Partnership Table that brings education leaders,
including parents, teachers, students and others together to
collaborate and find solutions in the best interest of students
Teacher Development Working Table
The Education Partnership Table is a forum designed to get broad and
diverse insights from the education sector on provincial education policy
early in the government's policy development process. The New Teacher
Induction Program is based on the recommendations of the Teacher Development
Working Table - a subcommittee of the partnership table, which includes
teachers, parents, school boards, principals and students. The Teacher
Development Working Table will be advising on further policies specific to
teacher development in greater detail. The Working Table is composed of more
than 20 representatives. It is co-chaired by Harold Brathwaite, of the Retired
Teachers' Federation and Jim McQueen, former President, Ontario Teachers'
Federation.
Disponible en français
www.edu.gov.on.ca
-30-
For further information: Amanda Alvaro, Minister's Office, (416) 325-2632, (416) 509-5696 (cell); Wilma Davis, Communications Branch, (416) 325-6730; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892
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