TEACHERORIENTATIONPROGRAM.docVIP

TEACHER ORIENTATION PROGRAM Guidelines 2011-12 PHILOSOPHY As teachers begin their careers in Lake County Public Schools, either as a first time professional or as an experienced educator from another district or state, it is important they receive support. Each school, and the district as a whole, has a culture unique to the community it serves. It is important that our new personnel receive training and experiences that will ensure their success. The Teacher Orientation Program (T.O.P.) is designed as a framework for this support. The guiding principles of the program are the Educator Accomplished Practices and the Professional Education Competencies (PEC) for professional certification. The Teacher Orientation Program is based on the premise that the professional development of new teachers is best achieved through a planned, supportive program. GOAL The goal of the Lake County Teacher Orientation Program is to provide for the development, demonstration, and documentation of the Professional Education Competencies (PEC) while providing a technical and psychological support system for new teachers. OBJECTIVES To provide personal support to new teachers; To increase retention of promising new teachers; To foster self-assessment and reflection; To acquaint new teachers with services and resources within the school and district; To improve understanding of effective teaching behaviors, accomplished practices, and educational competencies thereby improving instructional practice and student achievement. LEGISLATION State legislation (1012.52 and 1012.56) effective July 1, 1997, required: each district to develop and maintain a system by which members of the district’s instructional staff may demonstrate the professional education competence (PEC) required by this section for issuance of a professional certificate. Each district’s system must be based on classroom application and instructional performance and must include a performance evaluation plan for docu