TOOLKITS FOR NEW TEACHERS
In 2005, The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) subsidized a small teacher work group (7 first or second year teachers, representing all levels) to examine best school practices for new teachers. This group researched strategies for increasing teacher retention, analyzed local data (last five years school by school) relating to new teacher retention, developed a template for a new teacher toolbox, and reported findings to the district's Central Office and Board of Trustees as well as to The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE). The toolbox included a notebook of "best practice" ideas for new teachers, lists of things they need to know, local resources available to assist them, and access to many excellent web resources.
Our goal is to reduce Greenville's current teacher turnover rate and improve teacher quality. The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE)'s primary objectives are to:
- Decrease the number of new teachers leaving Greenville County schools within their first 1 to 3 years of teaching; thereby, increasing teacher retention rates and positively impacting student achievement.
- Help novice teachers improve their skills.
The teachers were given Toolkits in the form of a loose leaf notebook in 2005, in the form of a CD in 2006 and 2007, and in 2008 and 2009, the toolkit was provided on a USB flash drive. In an effort to support our belief that continuous improvement is imperative for teachers and students, we will continuously evaluate and improve our Teacher Toolkit.
This project received good to excellent evaluations from the teachers who used the toolkit in the first four years. Over 1,200 toolkits have been issued since 2005.
Quote from a new teacher:
"I had no idea there was a group of people in Greenville who cared so much if I was successful or not. It was a very hard year for me but I really enjoyed having the notebooks with lots of good ideas and tips to lean on at the end of a long day. Thank you very much for caring about what I do and helping me do it better."
Susan
If you are a new teacher in the Greenville County School District and did not receive a toolkit, email The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) or call us at (864) 233-4133 to request a kit. The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) welcomes suggestions for the toolkit as well.