Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Creating Online Mentoring to Support New Special Education Teachers Through a Partnership with the New Teacher Center OSEP Project Directors’ (PD) Conference July 21, 2010 Washington, DC Dr. Phoebe Gillespie, Director, Personnel Improvement Dr. George Ann Rice, Service Provider, Personnel Improvement Center Dr. Alyson Mike, Director of Online Professional Development, NTC Debra Dixon, Education Program Consultant, Louisiana DOE

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Personnel Improvement Center Mission Assist states in implementing evidence-based recruitment and retention practices to meet the need for highly or fully qualified special education, early intervention and related services personnel. 2

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Personnel Improvement Center A technical assistance and dissemination project at NASDSE. Fully-funded by US DOE, Office of Special Education Programs. Assisting states and their high need locales in recruiting, preparing and retaining special education, early intervention and related services personnel. Assisting in the design, development and management of the NTC’s special education e- mentoring initiative.

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved To improve student learning by supporting the development of an inspired, dedicated, and highly- qualified teaching force. MISSION New Teacher Center

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved History of Special Education Teacher e-mentoring Pilot Project Personnel Improvement Center’s (PIC) selected states requested assistance in ‘mentoring for retention’. PIC service provider participated in the NTC general training. Initiated discussions with NTC to create an e-mentoring site specifically for special educators. Engaged interested states in committing time and funds to create a pilot site. LA and NV committed funds and recruited mentors to support up to 75 mentees per state. Fall of 2010, site will expand to accommodate more states/LEAs.

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved e-Mentoring for Student Success History 2002, NTC received a 5 year grant from National Science Foundation to support new 6-12 grade science and math teachers. Three Partners - National Science Teachers Association (professional organization for science teachers) - New Teacher Santa Cruz -Montana State University (distance learning experts) Clients including states, districts, universities and non-profits paid a subsidized fee for each mentee present Clients pay a fee for each mentee.

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Round Table Discussion Does your state have specific guidelines for special education mentoring and induction programs? What is your role in implementing them? 7

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Percentage of All Nonstandard Certificates Issued in LA August 1, 2008 – April 30, 2009

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved “Completers” Receiving a Level 1, 2, or 3 License for the First Time in LA July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2008

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Targeted Issues On-going systemic issues of noncompliance regarding FAPE. High numbers of teachers who did not meet highly qualified status. Student Performance on Statewide Assessment.

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Percentage of Nonstandard Special Ed Certificates Issued by Area in LA August 1, 2008 – April 30, 2009

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Nonstandard Certificates by District in LA August 1, 2008 – April 30, 2009

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Solution: eMSS-SE Pilot for LA & NV Mentors 66 applicants, 58 accepted, 25 successfully completed, 6 resigned = 19 total mentors. Mentees 87 applied, 69 completed orientation and were matched. [ 43 EC/Elem, 14 MS, 11 HS ] 13

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved 14 Participation Data for eMSS – SE Pilot SITE VISITSOverall Total Site Visits Average Number of total visits per participant Average visits per week Mentees Mentors POSTS Overall Total Posts Average Number of total post per participant Range of posts Mentees Mentors

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Evaluation Results Post survey eMSS program data revealed that beginning teachers reported more prepared in the following areas: Managing students grades, record keeping, and paperwork. Student discipline. Lesson planning and time management. Effectively dealing with and communicating with parents. Using group work effectively. Setting and achieving student goals as written on I.E.P.’s Setting and achieving professional goals.

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Evaluation Results – Part 2 Mentees reported an increase in preparedness on the post survey in all of the following areas: Using real world problems/contexts in lessons. Examining student work in order to assess student thinking and reflect on classroom practice. Identifying/developing lessons aligned to instructional goals on the students' I.E.P.'s. *Identifying/developing lessons to address individual student needs. *Formally/Informally assess student learning within the content area in which you are teaching. *areas with largest reported gains

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Discuss with a Partner What efforts have been made by your center, project, state or preparation program to address the high rate of attrition of special educators in hard to staff areas? 17

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Content Specialists University faculty engaged in research and/or instruction in their field. Facilitators Teacher leaders facilitator in all program areas with on-going professional development. Mentors Exemplary special education teachers who are highly skilled in online mentoring and are matched with mentees who teach in the same disability and grade level. Mentees eMSS Program Staff

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved eMSS Program Overview Our Place A private area designed for mentees to work with their mentors. Mentees discuss their teaching practice and receive 1- on-1 mentoring from an experienced teacher in the same grade and subject. Mentor Place Discussion forums for larger groups of mentors. Mentor Place offers ongoing professional development and support for mentors. Inquiries Self-selected small groups examine pedagogical or content practices that can be applied directly to the classroom. A foundational part of eMSS, this is a structured and facilitated curriculum, which guides participants through a plan/prepare, teach/assess, and reflect/analyze cycle. Community Forums and Resources A community of teachers participates in discussion forums facilitated by teacher leaders and practicing mathematicians, scientists, and special education university professors. Content- focused discussions, dilemmas of practice, and access to resources are the heart of this area. Organizations enroll their beginning teachers in eMSS

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved NTC-Learning Environment

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved eMSS Program Chart Professional Development and Networking Through eMSS, new and veteran teachers—as well as university mathematicians, scientists, and special education university professors—collaborate in an interactive community to facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences in order to advance high-quality math, science, and special education instruction for all students. Online Learning Environment eMSS extends flexible, personalized, content-focused support to beginning teachers nationwide through its online technology network. eMSS offers mentees a range of online activities they can participate in—the mentee chooses those that best suit their own teaching needs. Program Management Designed to be a turnkey mentoring program for schools, the eMSS staff manage all aspects of the program administration including online applications, data reporting and regular pre- and post-surveys of participants. The intended goal is to make implementation seamless for school districts. Content Focused Mentoring Curriculum eMSS includes a facilitated math-, science-, and special education- specific curriculum that engages beginning teachers in planning, teaching, and reflecting on their classroom teaching. They exchange ideas with other beginning teachers as well as mentors who are working on similar goals.

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Table Discussion How can your Center, project, state or preparation program work with relevant stakeholders to address the development needs of beginning and experienced special educators to ensure they become highly effective? 22

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Next steps for eMSS-SE Develop curriculum specific for teachers who are working with students with sensory impairments. [Visual Impairment/Blind and Deaf and Hard of Hearing] Continue to work initially with states - then transition to districts after a year. Continue to develop and expand the available resources for participants. Continue to develop and expand the facilitation team with additional expertise. 23

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved eMSS-Special Education Q & A What questions do you have about moving forward with eMSS-SE in your state?

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved 25 Creating Online Mentoring to Support New Special Education Teachers Through a Partnership with the New Teacher Center Phoebe Gillespie, Ph.D. Director National Center to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Personnel for Children with Disabilities (Personnel Improvement Center) NASDSE 1800 Diagonal Road Suite 320 Alexandria, VA Phone: ext 337 Fax: For More Information Alyson Mike, Ed.D. Director of Online Professional Development New Teacher Center Montana Office Phone/Fax: Debra Dixon Education Program Consultant Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Special Populations PO Box Baton Rouge, LA, Phone: Fax:

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved The following slides are only added in the event we cannot connect to the internet and go live. 26

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved eMSS-SE Home Site 27

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Our Place 28

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Discussion Topics 29

Copyright ©2010 New Teacher Center, All Rights Reserved Conversation 30