Quality Staff

MENTOR PROGRAM PROVIDES TEACHERS NEW TO SISD WITH SUPPORT

Transitioning to a new school can be challenging for new teachers. However, thanks to SISD’s mentoring program, new Sunnyvale teachers can find support and guidance from their campus mentors — veteran teachers who help coach new teachers and provide them with emotional support.

Such support is crucial as teachers and students have returned to the classroom after an unusual pandemic year of teaching in 2020-21.

“SISD has always paired new teachers up with a mentor that serves as a contact person readily available to help the new teacher transition to our district,” Director of Learning Jennifer Settle said. “But we wanted to take that model and expand the support, connection and guidance in both the instructional aspect and social-emotional wellbeing for new teachers.”

Parents and community members may not know that new teachers begin with two days of New Teacher Orientation in August prior to the rest of the instructional staff. From there, they are paired up with a mentor on their own campus who has a similar teaching discipline. Throughout the year, new teachers and mentors meet monthly, participate in “New Teacher Huddles” led by Kristen Nester and Settle, and participate in observation/coaching sessions. First year teachers meet twice a month with their mentors. Each month the topics include an instructional focus as well as a social-emotional focus.

“There are many benefits to having a connection and supportive, professional partnership with a veteran teacher,” Settle said. “Being able to ask questions, get answers and understand how the campus operates is a benefit to all new teachers at the start of a new school year. Because the teaching profession has layers upon layers of daily responsibilities, having a strong support system is crucial to a teacher’s success and longevity in the profession.”

Because the teaching profession has layers upon layers of daily responsibilities, having a strong support system is crucial to a teacher’s success and longevity in the profession.

— JENNIFER SETTLE, SISD DIRECTOR OF LEARNING