SAISD OFFICE OF ACADEMICS
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SAISD | New Teacher Initiatives
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NEW TEACHER INITIATIVES

MISSION AND OVERVIEW
The SAISD New Teacher Support System program's mission is to equip teachers new to the profession with the knowledge, resources, and skills critical to facilitating their professional growth during the first two years of their careers.

The program includes several components including: New Teacher Orientation and professional learning via the New Teacher Academy, one-to-one support from campus-based mentors or Consulting Teachers, and professional learning programs to prepare and support mentor teachers in their work with beginning educators. New teachers are also supported through a range of programs including campus-based instructional coaches and curriculum and/or program-specific specialists from the district level.

NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION (NTO)
Each year, SAISD hosts an orientation for all new teachers. This year's event will be a Virtual New Teacher Orientation on July 27-31, 2020. More information, including an NTO Checklist is posted on the New Teacher Orientation web page. For NTO questions, please email newteacherorientation@saisd.net.  

NEW TEACHER ACADEMY

Teachers continue their induction into SAISD through the New Teacher Academy. This is a blended-learning program with some learning in the virtual setting and other in face-to-face settings. Teachers build upon their learning from New Teacher Orientation with information relevant to the time of year when the New Teacher Academy event occurs. 

MENTOR PROGRAM

SAISD's mentor program provides support to teachers in their first two years of their career. Mentors meet weekly with their mentee to guide them in all aspects of induction as professional educators. Mentors complete annual training and attend an annual coaching workshop with their mentee and other mentor pairs around the district. Each campus also has a designated Campus Mentor Coordinator who assigns mentor-mentee pairing and holds meetings at the campus level. More information about the mentor can be found in the  SAISD Mentor Handbook.

SAISD CONSULTING TEACHERS

The SAISD Consulting Teachers (CTs) are full-time mentors who provide individualized, holistic support to first-year teachers at identified campuses. Campuses receiving Consulting Teacher support typically have a large number of new teachers and/or have other needs where additional teacher support is beneficial. CTs primarily support novice teachers in: the core content areas, general education curriculum (GEC) teachers in special education, and Career and Technology Education (CTE) teachers.

Consulting Teachers are successful classroom teachers with expertise in classroom management and general pedagogy that is applicable to all teachers. They are also very knowledgeable about the T-TESS (appraisal system) process and provide significant, non-evaluative support to teachers in this area.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Carrie Culpepper
Director,
Retention & New Teacher Initiatives
cculpepper1@saisd.net
210-554-8521
Extension 54702

Valerie Alcala
Department Clerk
valcala1@saisd.net
210-554-2630

Burnet Learning Center
406 Barrera St | Portable 724
San Antonio, TX 78210

Office Hours:
​8:00 AM- 4:30 PM
Monday-Friday

Click here for a calendar with SAISD holidays.

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FAQs

How do I know if i am part of the new teacher support system?
If you are new to SAISD and in your first or second year of teaching, you will receive support as part of the program. If you do not know who your mentor is, please contact our office at 210-554-8521 or newteachersupport@saisd.net.
where do i go for information about new teacher orientation?
You can access all of the details at the Organizational Learning and Support Services website.
how do i find out who is my mentor?
Every campus has a Campus Mentor Coordinator who matches new teachers and mentors. You may also contact our office at 210-554-8521 or newteachersupport@saisd.net.
what are the requirements to be a mentor?
SAISD requires that a mentor have at least three years of teaching experience and meet the objective hiring criteria for the district (9 of 16 dimensions of T-TESS are Proficient with no Improvement Needed). Ideally, mentors teach the same grade level/content area as their mentee, but this is not always possible. All mentor assignments must be approved by the campus principal.
what are the responsibilities for serving as a mentor?
In general, mentors should support mentees with all aspects of becoming a professional educator. A full list of mentor responsibilities is outlined in the SAISD ​Mentor Handbook.
what training and documentation is required of mentors?
Mentors must complete annual training provided by the district. Training includes online modules and a face-to-face workshop accompanied by their mentee. Mentors meet weekly or bi-weekly (depending on the mentee's years of service) and submit four weekly meeting logs. All training and documentation is conducted through Google Classroom. Information about training dates and accessing the Google Classroom is available in the Mentor Handbook.

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San Antonio Independent School District
San Antonio Independent School District
141 Lavaca St., San Antonio, Texas 78210 Tel: 210.554.2200

It is the policy of San Antonio ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or disability in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and SAISD's board policies DIA, FFH, and FFI. 

Es norma del distrito de San Antonio no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, religión, origen nacional, sexo, identidad de género, expresión de género, orientación sexual o discapacidad, en sus programas, servicios o actividades vocacionales, tal como lo requieren el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmienda; el Título IX de las Enmiendas en la Educación, de 1972, la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, según enmienda, y las pólizas DIA, FFH, y FFI de la mesa directiva de SAISD.​
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