RETENTION: Implementing Successful SIG/SPDG Projects Cyndi Boezio, Ph.D. Colorado Department of Education SIG Regional Meeting—Albuquerque October 29, 2007

Discussion Questions Management: How do you manage a particular initiative? Content Implementation: How do you implement from initial pilot sites to scaling-up? Evaluation: How are you going to evaluate impact? Sustainability: How do you sustain it?

Retention Efforts in Colorado Grow-Your-Own Projects −Full tuition and support for paraeducators −Tuition stipends to district staff to become SLPs Incentive Programs −Incentive programs for vision and hearing providers −Incentive programs at facilities (residential, day treatment…) Rural Mentor Project

A Colorado SIG Project Funded by OSEP

The MENTOR Project Training for mentors—5 days Mentor stipend—$500 or $250 Expert consultant for mentor support Substitute reimbursement— classroom observations and meetings with protégé Training for protégés—2 days

#1. Managing a Project Identification of Sites −Retention Rate Data: Pilot in 3 highest need regions (3 of 8 regions) −Marketing: Personal Face-to-Face Invite, Use Project Data & Personal Testimonies

Managing a Project Staffing/Resource Allocations −Recommendation for trainer/consultant −Change when necessary: Relationships v. Skills Relationship Building & Buy-In −Superintendents −Principals

#2. Implementation: Pilots Start Small: Learn from Mistakes −Planning −Rural issues (mentor/protégé match, face-to-face meetings…) −Number of protégés −Relationship v. Skills −SPED directors working w/principals Involve Parents −PEAK Parent Center (PTI)

Scaling-Up Must be Dramatically Easier −Selling to superintendents and principals (time, cost, and achievement)

Scaling-Up & Systemic Factors Build the Infrastructure First! −Coaching: Teacher leaders in 3 regions −Trainers: Trainers trained to use the standard curriculum* −Evaluation: Use data for decision making Think Regionally!

#3. Evaluation Continuous Feedback Loop −Mentors said teach more skills −Protégés said liked networking −Directors said standards-based IEPs

Evaluation of Impact: Retention Projects Increased Retention Rates Comparison with None Project Novice Teachers −1 BOCES had 100% retention w/the project and less than 50% w/out

Evaluation of Impact: Participants’ Views Value of Project −Protégés 71% improved teaching skills 86% impacted their professional growth −Mentors 100% positive professional experience −Special Education Directors “re-energized my veteran teachers” “all parties raved about the MENTOR Project”

#4. Sustainability Implementation with Fidelity −Coverage—Implement all components −Dosage—Ensure amount of time & intensity −Need Coaching 3 regional teacher leaders

Sustainability Systems in Place −Coaching −Training −Evaluation Loop Material Development −Standard curriculum −Mentor modules Support from Leadership

Contact Colorado Cyndi Boezio, SIG Director − (call first) Adena Miller, Mentor Coordinator −

Discussion Questions 1.Management: How do you manage a particular initiative? 2.Content Implementation: How do you implement from initial pilot sites to scaling-up? 3.Evaluation: How are you going to evaluate impact? 4.Sustainability: How do you sustain it?