Great teachers and administrators are key to a child’s academic success and Indiana is fortunate to have young professionals dedicate their careers to serving young Hoosiers. Like any profession, both classroom instruction and on-the-job training are essential. Giving new teachers structured guidance and support to develop their passion and skills is important to not only improving teacher performance but also retention. Extra support can give educators in their first or second year the motivation they need to overcome any initial frustrations and build a successful teaching career.
I supported a bill this session that would establish the Indiana New Educator Induction Pilot Program under the Indiana Department of Education. Applications for program grants would outline a school district’s plan to provide structured mentoring over two years to new teachers and administrators. Eligible programs must implement a rigorous mentor selection process along with training and professional support for mentors. Moreover, schools must ensure mentors and their mentees are provided with manageable workloads over the two-year period. Upon the successful completion of the induction program, the new teacher (mentee) would be awarded a practitioner license and a micro-credential for having completed their mentorship program and the experienced teacher would receive one for mentoring. These credentials remain a permanent component of an Indiana teaching license and can be considered in staff evaluations.
Mentorship programs are worthwhile investments. They have proven to increase new teacher retention and improve student outcomes, which are imperative to Indiana’s academic success. A 2014 survey released by the National Network of State Teachers of the Year and the American Institutes for Research indicated that 55 percent of new teachers listed “access to a mentor” as having the largest impact on developing their effectiveness as a teacher. The bill would also establish a teacher residency pilot program for students studying education in college. It would encourage universities to create teacher residency models similar to those used in the medical field.
Mentors give new educators and administrators the confidence they need to develop successful teaching and leadership methods. This program would give first-and second-year teachers the ability to ask questions, learn from their mistakes, and have an experienced and successful teaching veteran on their side to tell them how they can make their time in the classroom more meaningful for students.
This session, my colleagues and I strengthened our commitment to educators and students in numerous ways. After approval from the House and Senate, House Enrolled Act 1449 is now on its way to Gov. Eric Holcomb and can be signed into law.
As we continue our work during this year’s budget session, I encourage you to contact me with any questions or input at 317-232-9793 or by email at h74@iga.in.gov. Learn more about the work being done at the Statehouse by signing up to receive my email updates at www.in.gov/h74.
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State Rep. Lloyd Arnold (R-Leavenworth) represents House District 74, which includes portions of Spencer, Dubois, Perry, Crawford and Orange counties.
A high-resolution photo of Arnold can be downloaded by clicking here.
