| Southern Local School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
3123 - ENTRY-YEAR PROGRAM
The success of a school system rests in a large part with the orderly development of its certificated staff. A mentor program is an educationally sound instrument that will assist in achieving this goal.
Entry-year program will mean a program of support provided by the School District for a period of one (1) year that will meet the unique needs of an individual in the first year of employment under a certificate for a classroom teacher or as an educational personnel specialist.
New to the District program will mean a program of orientation provided by the School District to meet the unique needs of an individual with prior experience as either a teacher or as an educational personnel but who is new to the District.
Mentor means the person assigned to provide professional support to an individual for the first full year of employment under a classroom teaching certificate or an educational personnel certificate. An individual with prior professional experience will be provided a mentor for the first grading period only.
Requirements for an entry year program for the certificated staff new to the profession shall be implemented in accordance to the standards adopted by the State Department of Education (3301-22-02). Requirements for a certificated staff new to the District shall be effective July 1, 1988.
As needed, a mentor shall be assigned for one (1) year for each entry-year teacher education personnel specialist new to the profession. Such mentor shall be selected from the staff of the school to which the new teacher is assigned and is to be recommended by the principal of that school. A mentoring for orientation shall be assigned for the first grading period for each new certificated staff who has had previous experience but is new to the District.
Each mentor assigned to an entry-year classroom teacher shall be employed under a classroom teaching certificate unless otherwise agreed to by the entry-year classroom teacher.
Each mentor assigned to an entry-year educational personnel specialist shall hold a similar personnel certificate unless otherwise agreed to by the entry year educational personnel.
The Superintendent shall recommend to the Board mentors for teachers/education personnel specialist who have District-wide responsibilities.
When necessary, a statement of assurances signed by the Superintendent and filed with the State Department of Education shall indicate that an entry-year program is provided for each individual in the first year of his/her employment under a classroom teaching or an educational personnel certificate.
At the beginning of each school year, each entry-year individual new to the profession and/or new to the District shall be provided the following orientation by the principal/principals of the building/buildings where s/he is assigned.
| A. | the students and community to be served | |
| B. | school policies, procedures, and routines | |
| C. | courses of study, competency-based education programs, and responsibilities for lesson plans | |
| D. | the layout and facilities of the assigned school building or buildings | |
| E. | the nature of the entry year program which will be provided | |
| F. | additional information an entry year person may need to be adequately prepared for a specific assignment |
Each entry-year classroom teacher shall be provided with the following:
| A. | assistance in acquiring knowledge of the school curriculum, responsibilities for implementing that curriculum, and the instructional resources available for such implementation | |
| B. | assistance with management tasks identified as especially difficult |
Each educational personnel specialist shall be provided assistance that is differentiated to meet his/her unique needs related to a specific assignment.
The principal of each building shall use the following criteria when choosing an individual for recommendation to the Board as a mentor.
| A. | experience and certification appropriate to the assignment of the entry year person or persons | |
| B. | knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values deemed essential for becoming an effective mentor |
Mentors for entry year certificated staff shall be provided with an orientation to mentoring responsibilities, training in the knowledge and skills necessary to perform mentoring responsibilities, opportunities to consult with and assist the entry year individual on a regular basis with adequate time within the instructional day.
At least every five (5) years the entry year program shall be evaluated by a program administrator, a mentor, and if available an entry-year certificated staff member. Revisions to the entry year program shall be documented.