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Illinois School Board Journal
July/August 2001

Teacher Induction:
New program strives for consistency

By Linda Dawson

When it comes to retaining teachers, induction and mentoring systems must begin with supportive administrators and school boards. And it would certainly help if such programs were consistent throughout the state.

Those are the messages from the Regional Offices of Education and the Intermediate Service Centers in Illinois, which brought together a design team to develop the framework for a training system that would result in "consistent, high quality professional development opportunities with universal access throughout Illinois." The system began with a proposal from Kay Green, superintendent of Kankakee School District 111. The design team had input from the ROE, ISC, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Principals Association, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Learning Partnership and community colleges, among others.

Kay Pangle, superintendent for ROE #32 Iroquois/Kankakee, and assistant superintendents Nicki Rosenbaum, ROE #17 DeWitt, Livingston, McLean, and Vicki Hensley, ROE #32 Iroquois/Kankakee, presented a panel at this year's IASA annual conference, outlining the program to combat what is seen as a growing problem of teacher retention.

Studies show that without a system of support, Rosenbaum said, the most promising teachers leave the profession in the early years. They come out of a very structured, student teaching environment and are thrown into classrooms with little or no supervision, a situation that can lead to feelings of isolation and confusion.

"We may be losing quality teachers with their hands held high in frustration," she said. By establishing a consistent system of induction (of which mentoring is only a portion), districts could promote the personal and professional well-being of beginning teachers, assist them in learning the culture of the district and improve overall teacher performance.

One facet of the design addresses superintendent training in awareness of the issue, mentor selection and creation of teams, who would then develop district-specific induction plans. Another facet develops training for the coaches/trainers.

While funding was in doubt at the time of the IASA presentation, Rosenbaum said ISBE has since funded $10,000 for use before July 1, 2001, to set up administrator academies and train trainers. ISBE also has promised money in the next fiscal year so that work with coaches can begin this fall, putting the new statewide system on track with its timeline.

For more information on the program, contact Hensley at 815/937-2950 (vhensley@I-kan.org), or rosenbaum at 309/888-5120 (nickir.@roe17.k12.il.us).