Common use of Orientation Phase Clause in Contracts

Orientation Phase. (For probationary teachers) (a) Work sites will also provide a mentor for each new teacher. The mentor and new teacher could involve other personnel as needed to assist in activities. Up to seven hours of release time annually may be needed in the orientation component. The mentor must agree to accept the mentoring responsibility and receive train- ing. (b) The mentor will have frequent communication with the new teacher and first- hand knowledge of the teacher’s job performance during the orientation period. The frequency of interactions may decrease but mentoring should continue to be available for the orientation period. (c) New teachers will be asked to keep a personal journal of questions, concerns, successes, and feelings to discuss with the mentor at their meetings. The personal journal belongs to the teacher who created it and will be kept by that teacher. These reflections could drive what resources are needed to assist the new teacher. (d) Areas of support could include: (1) systems information – giving information related to procedures, guidelines and expectations; (2) resources – collecting, disseminating or locating materials or other resourc- es; (3) professional information – giving information strategies related to the new teacher’s role; (4) emotional support – through listening empathetically and sharing experi- ences; (5) advice on scheduling and planning; (6) advice on working with internal and external customers; (7) co-facilitation of improvement planning, conferences, staffing, staff develop- ment activities and job shadowing experiences; (8) participation in the development of the new teacher’s professional growth plan. Outcomes from the first year’s experiences would be important factors in setting up the goals for the following school year. (e) The supervisor, in collaboration with the new teacher, is responsible for iden- tifying the mentor. The supervisor is responsible for having firsthand knowledge of the teacher’s performance during the orientation period.