By Jennifer Nitson
Gazette-Times reporter | Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 12:00 am
Studies show that 30 percent of new teachers in Oregon quit within the first three years of their careers.
In an effort to keep that number down and to help teachers in their new role, the Corvallis School District has established a mentoring program to show new teachers the ropes, offer them support and encouragement, and give them a way to constructively address problems that arise.
With 85 new teachers hired since spring, and another five to 10 more new hires expected, this could prove to be an important program for the district.
The new hires - some rookies fresh out of college, some with years of teaching experience - gathered in the auditorium at Crescent Valley High School on Monday morning to begin a week-long seminar designed to introduce them to Corvallis schools' faculty and staff and to the mentoring program.
They learned about the district's literacy, special education and English as a second language programs, received schedules for the school year, and - most importantly - met longtime Corvallis teachers and each other.
"I think it's great," new teacher Kristine Bergquist said.
Hired to teach second grade at Lincoln School, Bergquist appreciates the chance to meet other teachers, learn about the curriculum and find out who to go to when a child has special needs.
"I remember when I started teaching at a different school district, and there was just nothing in place," she said. "I think they're going to avoid a lot of problems in the long run by having this support for new teachers."
When the school year is under way, the new teachers will attend monthly group meetings with mentors - seasoned Corvallis teachers - at their schools. During these meetings they will have a chance to share their frustrations and successes and seek input on classroom strategies.
"It's a secure and safe environment to have conversations and be very specific about things that they want to learn or feel like they need to learn," said Lisa Holcomb, a mentor and special education teacher at Adams Elementary.
Holcomb pointed out that participants learn not only from their mentors, but also from each other.
"It really lends to helping people to not feel isolated in their own little job and helping them benefit from the support and encouragement," Holcomb said.
The mentoring program in Corvallis schools was piloted last year, with 10 teacher mentors serving schools district-wide. This year the program has expanded, with 28 mentors. Every school will have at least one mentor in the building. Because of the demands of their Spanish-English dual immersion programs, Lincoln and Garfield will have two mentors each, and each middle school and high school will have two mentors for new teachers.
Funded with small grants and general fund dollars, the mentoring program is expected to cost about $160,000 this year. Other money might be available for the mentoring program in the future. Last week Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed into law a bill to provide $5 million statewide to mentor all new K-12 teachers, principals and superintendents, beginning in 2008.
This is expected to save Oregon taxpayers tens of millions of dollars spent each year as teachers quit and new teachers have to be hired.
Laura Waarvick, hired to teach third grade at Jefferson Elementary, believes mentoring is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
"It's a big investment to hire somebody, so I think it's great that they are taking the time to support us and let us know what resources we do have," she said.