Induction Program
The High Tech High Graduate School of Education is pleased to announce that beginning in Fall 2008, San Diego area educators will be able to participate in the HTH teacher induction program.

Program philosophy
It is our belief that what new to the profession teachers need most is one-on-one attention from an experienced mentor teacher.
The primary activities in our induction program are:

* Observations of the new teacher by the mentor teacher.
* Observations of the mentor teacher by the new teacher.
* Weekly meetings between the mentor teacher and new teacher.

New teachers also attend two High Tech High teacher residencies each year they are involved in the induction program. New teachers can choose which residencies to attend in consultation with their mentor teacher and the director of the HTH induction program.

Mentor teachers
In most cases, participating schools will provide their own in-house mentor teachers who best understand the local context that the new teacher operates in. Mentor teachers must have a California clear credential and must attend High Tech High mentor trainings. In some limited cases, High Tech High may be able to provide mentor teachers to a participating school site. In that case, participating schools will be charged to cover the cost of a stipend to the HTH mentor teacher.

Costs to participating schools
The state of California provides money to induction providers to offer induction programs. The HTH GSE uses this money to operate the induction program. Participating schools are required by the state to provide $2000 in in-kind contributions. This in-kind contribution may take a number of forms, including a stipend for mentors, substitute teachers while mentors or new teachers are away at trainings, and release time for mentors or new teachers. The in-kind contribution can be flexibly determined by the participating school and the HTH GSE. There are no additional costs to participating schools.

Mentor trainings
Mentors need to attend mentor trainings at the High Tech High campus in Point Loma. Mentor trainings will occur on two full days in August and on 4 half days during the school year. The purpose of mentor trainings is to discuss how best to work with new to the profession teachers and to work together to understand how to assist new teachers using a process of formative assessment.

Formative assessment process
The High Tech High Graduate School of Education has partnered with the New Teacher Center at UC Santa Cruz to implement their Formative Assessment System to support new teacher learning, reflection, and growth.

The High Tech High Graduate School of Education teacher induction program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Program completers will meet the induction requirements to earn a clear credential.

For more information on the High Tech High Teacher Induction program, please contact either Hayley Loendorf hloendorf@hightechhigh.org or Julie Holmes juholmes@hightechhigh.org or call 619.398.4902 .



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