Hillsborough County Public Schools Information and Technology
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, October 16, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Agreements for Technical Service for On-site Coaching by District Based Mentors to Support Focus Schools with High Attrition Rates Through the Teacher Training Office, Staff Development (Information and Technology Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The District is committed to providing support systems for new teachers. The District Based Mentor program is part of the teacher induction offered to new teachers at Focus Schools in the District. These schools have a large number of new teachers and not enough veteran educators to serve as Peer Assistants. Having this support system improves the effectiveness of new teachers. District Based Mentors are retired or on-leave teachers who have previously served as mentors in our district.

The District Based Mentors will work at schools with high attrition rates. Each mentor will provide 8 hours per week of face-to-face mentoring, maintain a log of mentoring activities related to the 12 Accomplished Practices and log their hours. Mentors will model best practices for new teachers and arrange for them to observe highly effective teachers. The District Based Mentors will attend a workshop on best practices, mentoring conversations, and district expectations of the mentoring program.

We request approval of the Agreements for Technical Service to provide support to new teachers at selected Focus Schools from October to December 2007. Agreements have been prepared for the attached list of District Based Mentors. In order to effectively provide mentoring services to the high needs schools, permission is requested to add and delete mentors as needed, not to exceed the budgeted amount of $65,000.00.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

Goal 3, Success Factor 2: Recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and provide an ongoing mentoring program. Goal 3, Success Factor 3: Align professional development with teacher needs as reflected by student achievement data.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The District Based Mentor Program is funded through Staff Development Project 1380 in the amount of $65,000.

EVALUATION

District Based Mentors complete an evaluation at the end of the school year. Principals are surveyed annually to determine the impact of the program. New Teachers who receive this level of support will be surveyed at mid year and at the end of the school year, providing feedback to the Staff Development Office concerning the level of support they received and its impact on their teaching effectiveness. The Staff Development Office monitors the retention rate of the teachers who receive coaching from District Based Mentors.

SUBMITTED BY: Chuck Fleming, Director, Staff Development

Jack E. Davis
Chief Information and Technology Officer
813 272-4600
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
813 272-4270
A 5.07
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20071016_268 * Section A Item# 5.07