Traverse City New Teacher Induction Program

Traverse City Area Public School’s (TCAPS) New Teacher Induction Program supplies several tools that assist new teachers as they begin their careers. The program’s primary goal is to provide professional development and mentoring to new teachers. Last year, the district had 16 first-year hires and 46 new teachers. TCAPS holds monthly
professional development meetings for the entire crew of new teachers. Typically, the meetings consist of time devoted to new teacher interests and timely topics such as classroom management, lesson design, and discussion of Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching by Charlotte Danielson. The framework for teaching in this book is based on the PRAXIS III Classroom Performance Assessments criteria developed by Educational Testing Service. The framework identifies aspects of a teacher’s responsibilities documented through empirical studies and research to promote improved student learning.

Jim Linsell, District Support Specialist for the Professional Development and New Teacher Induction Program at TCAPS and former Michigan Teacher of the Year, makes classroom visits to new teachers and acts as ombudsman for inquiries that might slip through the cracks. The program allows him to provide an Internet forum for threaded discussions on topics of interest to both participants and organizers.

Session topics, use of the web page, and mentor activities reflect recent new teacher literature and address new teacher needs. TCAPS works hard to respond to the needs of new teachers as they transition into their new careers.

For information on TCAPS’s program, contact: Jim Linsell, District Support Specialist, Professional Development and New Teacher Programs, Traverse City Area Public Schools, P.O. Box 32, Traverse City, MI 49685, (231) 933-5960, linsellja@eastern.tcaps.net.