Several years ago, the district identified the need to create a program that would better induct teachers into the community and schools. Because of this planning, the district received funding last year to support its work.

The current school year serves as the first year of true implementation. Elena Velasquez, a 23-year-veteran teacher, is spearheading the program in her new role as the district’s instructional coach. She and a team of teacher leaders designed and organized a two-day New Teacher Academy. Any new teacher could access the two-day training, although new teachers (as first- and second-year or new from out of the state) were required to attend. Teachers were acclimated to the district, assigned a mentor teacher, took a tour of the Forks’ greater community by bus, set up their classrooms, learned about the new Teacher Principal Evaluation Program (TPEP), as well a variety of other activities.

Superintendent Diana Reaume said, “Elena Velasquez and her team created a welcoming environment for our new staff. They specifically designed the first two days to demonstrate how important relationship building is to the climate of a classroom.”

Each new teacher also is assigned a mentor with whom they will meet frequently. New teachers also are required to attend monthly meetings. They will have an opportunity to observe master teachers throughout the year, as well as have an opportunity to be observed by their mentors.

Mentor teachers are required to attend special training by the state, as well as have an opportunity to be a part of the Teacher Roundtable meetings once a month.

“The whole point of the program is to provide support so that continuous growth occurs across all levels of teaching. We are fortunate to have the funding to put these systems in place,” said Reaume.