NEST - NEW EDUCATORS’ SUPPORT TEAMIT TAKES A WHOLE DISTRICT TO RAISE A TEACHER

Youngstown City Schools Wendy Webb, Ed.D. - Superintendent Entry-Level Program Germaine Bennett – Executive Director of Human

Resources Mary Carter, TSA – Coordinator of NEST Licensure Standards for Entry-Level teachers became

effective on Jan. 1, 1998 Entry-Program shall include both a formal program of support,

including mentoring, to foster professional growth of the individual and to prepare them for the performance-based assessment required for the 5-year professional license. (currently Praxis III)

Entry-Level teacher – Matthew Guarnieri –

East Middle School – Grade 5

Entry-Level Teacher ResponsibilitiesAttend NEST

Orientation

Attend 9 monthly professional development meetings

Maintain journal/

reflections on lessons and activities

Observe mentor and other teachers modeling Best Practice lessons

Quarterly observation by mentor – evaluation in Pathwise Domains

__________________

Praxis III assessment for EYTs with 2-

year Provisional licenses

Daily/weekly contact with mentor

Entry-Level Teachers - EYTs

EYT – Brian Veccia Brian won 3rd Place in the City-wide Robotics Contest

25 out of 26 Entry –LevelTeachers passed the PraxisIII assessment in the 2001 – 2002 school year.(assessment did not count) Two EYTs were required totake the Praxis III assessment in the 2002 - 2003 school year.Both passed. 2003-2004 – 16 teachers passedthe Praxis III 2004-2005 – 11 teachers had the Praxis III assessment

NEST PROGRAM -MENTORSCarol Rook - Mentor

Carol Rook and Matt Guarnieri – EYT and Mentor

Mentor Responsibilities

Provide Model lessons for EYTs

Critique EYT’s

Performance

Written feedback to EYT

Attend all NEST meetings

Turn in Monthly Reports

Pathwise

Training/Ohio First Training

NEST Orientation

Reflection on teaching

Mentor

In-service

Daily/Weekly contact with EYT

Nurture/Listen/

Support to EYTMeet with Lead Mentor

NEST MISSION STATEMENT

As Entry-Level Teachers and Mentors in the Youngstown City

Schools’ NEST Program, we strive for EYT – Enthusiasm, Yearning

for Knowledge, and Teacher Growth.

Our first NEST grant was awarded in 1998 by the Ohio Department of Education. It was written under the guidance of Dr. Susan Stevens. The Youngstown Education Association became a

part of this grant by establishing union mentor positions. The YEA was also a part of the interview process for mentors. OEA provided various workshops for new teachers. We received grants from the ODE for four years. Grants are no longer available and the state

pays $1100 to the district for each Entry-Level teacher.

DISTRICT AND UNION COLLABORATION

NEA-SATURN/UAW PARTNERSHIP AWARD The National Education Association awarded the 2003

NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Award for Teacher Mentoring programs to our NEST program

Eight Districts in the Nation will receive the award at the NEA convention in New Orleans in June 2003

Winners of the NEA Mentoring Award: Conejo Valley – Thousand Oaks, CA Fairfield City Schools – Fairfield, OH Glendale Union – Glendale, AZ Hempfield Area – Greensburg, PA Plain Local Schools – Canton, OH Unified Schools, Antigo, WI Youngstown City Schools, Youngstown, OH

NEA-Saturn/UAW recognizes programs that:

Offer guidance to new teachers Professional supportPersonal growth Increase teacher-retention rates in each of their districts

Youngstown, Ohio. One of the first districts to receive a state grant to establish a mentoring program, the Youngstown City School District continues to be a leader in establishing new teachers through its New Educators' Support Team (NEST). This program pairs mentors and first-year teachers by subject-area, grade level and building, allowing for a unique and successful sharing of ideas, materials and methods. Mentors, all members of the Youngstown Education Association, are provided with mentor salaries, class coverage, and professional development opportunities and supplies. In addition to achieving a 92% rate of retention for new teachers, the teamwork between union and district officials saw 27 out of 28 of last year's participants successfully pass Ohio's assessment performance test.

'Partnerships in Pursuit of Quality Yield Success in the Classroom as well as on the Assembly Line'  

NEA AWARDS BASED ON:

1. Trust

2. Teamwork

3. Shared-decision making

4. Focus on quality

5. Training

6. Accountability for Results

7. Long-term ability to survive conflict and change

NEA AWARDS BASED ON:

President of NEA – Reggie Weaver, Will Bagnola, Mary Carter, Corey Springer (Saturn Representative) - New Orleans – June

2003

The First Days of School, by Dr. Harry Wong

Dr. Harry Wong has written several books for Entry-Level teachers. We use his books and videos in our NEST

program.

16

Delta Kappa Gamma

Article published in The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin,

Spring 2004 Mentors Inspiring

Excellence: NEST

New Educators Support Team

DKG is a professional honorary society of

women educators. The Society promotes profession

al and personal growth of

its members

and excellence

in education.

Japanese Proverb

“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is

one day with a great teacher.”