We’re All in This Together

Whether coming from college, a school district in another state, or an entirely different career, a first year teacher faces many challenges.  Challenges, which, if not met can have long-term detrimental effects on a teacher’s career.  But there’s no need to worry – Spotsylvania County has an award winning Mentor Teacher program that is all about wrapping services around teachers.  Through one-on-one mentoring, coaching, and community integration, we enable teachers to be successful in their first years.

Program History 

In June 2000, the School Board approved a mentor teacher program to provide support to first year teachers.  Following the approval of our program, an advisory committee composed of master teachers was established to design the components of the program.  The theme selected for the mentor program is “Success Through Progress,” and the key objective is to retain quality teachers by providing support in their first year.

During the program’s first two years, the mentor teachers received training through a collaborative initiative with Mary Washington College and the James Monroe Center.  The third year we asked master teachers to work with mentors before the beginning of school. This modeling reinforces effective mentoring.

After reviewing two years of data, the Mentor Leadership Team responded to challenges expressed by new teachers by establishing Beef Soup For The New Teacher’s Soul in partnership with the Office of Staff Development.  To date, Beef Soup presentations continue to be tailored to meet the needs of our new teachers.  New teachers have reported that they are learning strategies that they can implement immediately. 

Community Integration

One of the most important aspects, if not the most important, of the Mentor Teacher Program is its commitment to making sure that new teachers feel at home in Spotsylvania County schools.  30% of our new teachers come from outside Virginia, and when they arrive, we want to help them settle in as quickly as possible.  But our relocation efforts go beyond the surface issues of moving expense reimbursements that are part of most relocation programs. 

We partner with key businesses in the county to help with the transition and decrease the cost of living.  This includes reduced rates with car dealerships, apartment complexes, and real estate companies.  So, not only will we help you become a better teacher, we will help you grow to be a vital part of the community you are joining.  Partnering with businesses to bring perks to teachers that they otherwise would not receive means that the respect you have for the community is mutual and does not go unnoticed.

Mentoring Beyond Mentoring

Of course, community integration is just one of the many facets of the Mentor Teacher program.  The definition of a mentor is a trusted counselor or guide.  He or she is someone who a teacher can talk to and come to for advice, and who serves as a teacher.  We do that, but then take this idea one step beyond.  Our Mentor Teacher program is bigger than that traditional sense. Mentors assigned to teachers receive a stipend to provide support and encouragement, and offer assistance in the practical application of instructional skills.  During the year, they observe the beginning teacher and offer feedback.  They also provide ongoing support with curriculum materials and lesson planning.

When you become a teacher in Spotsylvania County, you enter a program that is full of life and ideas, and is fluid.  Our mentors not only guide new teachers through the rapids and pitfalls facing all new teachers, but the new teachers guide one another and in turn guide the program. We believe that feedback from participants is essential to the growth of any program.  Each year we improve on the previous year by implementing programs suggested and designed by participants.

Think about it.  You’re in a new place, maybe even starting a new career, and despite how excited you are to get out and help touch lives and change the world, there is a very good chance that you are going to feel very alone.  Well, through social events like our mentor teacher picnic and Beef Soup, you know you are not alone.  We partner with our curriculum and instruction experts to give you a well-rounded development for new issues facing you – class management, special education, planning – and also give you the chance to share concerns and ideas.  Then, we take your concerns and ideas and apply them to the program.

You’ll Be Here Longer Than you Think!

What does this all mean in the end?  Well, our goal at Spotsylvania County Schools is to foster continued growth as a teacher.  No first year teacher is perfect and teacher effectiveness has been proven to increase over time.  Our mentor teacher program effectively retains recruited teachers by enabling curriculum and instruction specialists and opportunity to transform skilled teachers into master teachers.  From career switchers to recent graduates, we get the right people on the bus – and we hold them.  In fact, we retain a majority of our first year teachers and the program is award winning, the standard against which many others are measured.

And it just gets better!  Since 2000, the Mentor Teacher program has grown and improved each year.   It is the commitment of our school division to support our educators in any way possible, and both mentees and mentors alike can look back upon their first year and know that the support provided makes everyone a winner!