Defining Induction

According to Phillip Schlechty, the purpose of induction is to ensure that all members of the staff “are aware of and embrace the norms and values of the group or organization and that they possess the skills, attitudes, and habits of mind necessary to fulfill the roles they are assigned in the group or organization.”

In “Using Data to Improve Teacher Induction Programs,” the NEA Foundation (Summer 2002) describes three new teacher induction models that schools use to achieve these goals: Basic Orientation, Instructional Practice, and School Transformation.

The Basic Orientation Model is most common and often involves a series of workshops focused on school/district procedures and policies. A mentor may or may not be assigned to each new educator. Broward’s New Teacher Academy and New Teacher Orientation exemplify this model.

Mentors in the Instructional Practice Model are well trained and model research-based strategies to help their clients meet state and local standards of curriculum and instruction. Policies, procedures, and classroom management are also addressed. NESS fits these criteria.

The School Transformation Model connects induction “… to systemic, school-wide renewal efforts that promote continuous improvement. This model helps new teachers to engage in school reform and connect their professional growth to challenging goals for student learning. It focuses on the development of teachers as a ‘community of learners’ and enables faculty to work together on all aspects of their job.”

The School Transformation model reflects how we envision induction in Broward County Schools. Induction, as we see it, is not a “one-shot deal”, but a system of ongoing processes embedded in all that we do to grow as educators and institutions; underlying this system is a school-wide collaborative culture that taps and supports the learning of all stakeholders.
Skills, attitudes, and habits of mind must continually change to meet the demands of our evolving roles as educators. Induction helps to ensure that we are able to fulfill our roles throughout the change process.

Source: Joy Rabin, NESS Program Facilitator