New Teacher Support

Mission Statement

New Teacher Support will create and utilize structures that maintain program accreditation and support new teachers in the advancement of their credentialing and development as professional educators.

Programs

We provide support to Kern High School District teachers who are not fully credentialed in the following New Teacher Support programs:

Kern High Induction Program (KHIP)

University Intern

Designated Subjects Adult Education

Designated Subjects CTE

Mentors

Mentors are provided to candidates in all New Teacher Support Programs within the first 30 days of the participant's enrollment in the program. Mentors and candidates are matched according to credentials held, grade level and/or subject area, as appropriate to the participant's employment.

All mentors possess a Clear Teaching Credential and hold permanent status with the district. They are current classroom teachers with a minimum of three years of teaching experience in the district. All mentors have demonstrated a commitment to their own professional learning and are fully committed to the process of collaboration.

Mentors enjoy confidential, professional relationships with their candidates and agree to assist each candidate through a minimum of one hour of direct support per week. Mentors express the ability, willingness, and flexibility to meet each candidate's individual needs. Mentors are provided support for individual mentoring challenges, reflection on mentoring practice, and opportunities to engage with mentoring peers in professional learning networks.

Mentors are trained in the following:

effective coaching and mentoring practices
goal-setting
the use of appropriate mentoring instruments for each candidate's program
best practices in adult learning
program processes designed to support candidate growth and effectiveness

Leave Policy

A candidate who, in any one school year, is on leave from the classroom for more than 25 percent of the complete school year, as defined by the Student Attendance Calendar, will not be eligible to participate in the Kern High Induction Program that school year. The mentor will remain in place to provide general support.

As per the Mentor and Candidate Agreements, KHSD New Teacher Support mentors and candidates must complete and submit the Notification of Leave before commencing any leave that will continue beyond two consecutive weeks.

Candidates who take leave may have their induction experience extended. Candidates in the Early Completion Option (ECO) program who take leave may invalidate their ECO status and be re-designated as KHIP Year 1 for induction and placed into the two-year, four-semester program.

Mentors on leave may have their stipends suspended for the duration of their leave.

Equity and Non-Discrimination Policy

All program requirements and opportunities comply with the KHSD Board Approved Equity and Non-Discrimination Policies.

Complaint Process

KHSD Complaint Process

New Teacher Support Complaint Process is presented in all program orientations.