3.1o Kansas Teachers Academy Memo
Dear Educational Leader,
As you are probably aware, the State Board of Education has adopted a
revised teaching performance assessment in accordance with the
requirements of K.A.R.91-1-203. Over the course of the next year, the
State Board will consider permanent changes to the teaching performance
assessment as originally outlined in the regulations. During this interim
period, the State Board adopted the following assessment as the teaching
performance assessment during this transitional period:
Each conditionally licensed teacher must complete a year-long,
district-administered induction and mentoring program to pass the teaching
performance assessment as a prerequisite to receiving a professional
teaching license.
To meet this requirement, we would very much like for you to consider
allowing your new teachers to participate in Pittsburg State’s Kansas
Teachers Academy. Our Academy meets and exceeds all the requirements for
the KSDE standards for an induction and mentoring program. Over the past
nine years, the Academy has evolved into a multifaceted professional
development system that has served hundreds of first through third year
teachers in numerous southeast Kansas school districts. For a more
detailed description of the program, we’ve attached a Program Summary and
Mentor Syllabus. You could also explore the program at our website:
http://www.pittstate.edu/curin/faculty/kectacademy.htm
To highlight key aspects of the program:
Participants: Open to all first through third year teachers and their
selected mentors.
Meetings: Both the mentor and mentee will attend eight monthly sessions
together. Here, various topics and activities will be presented followed
by sessions where the mentor and mentee are trained separately. This year,
cognitive coaching will be emphasized. Each month, following a timeline
of activities, the pairs will be expected to complete various interactions
to implement the specific practices and to meet both the personal and
professional needs of the beginning teacher.
Dates and Times: Our first meeting will be Thursday, Sept 11th, 5:00 p.m.
in the Governor's Room, PSU's Memorial Student Center. Six other monthly
sessions are tentatively scheduled for 10/9, 11/13, 12/11, 1/15, /2/12,
and 3/12. Dinner will be served at every session. To end the year, we
plan to host participants at the KSDE Conference being held this year in
Wichita, March 30 and April 1.
3.1o Kansas Teachers Academy Memo
Instructors: The Academy is again directed and managed by four
experienced professionals who work with training the beginning
professionals and mentors. Call or email any one of them if you have
questions.
Mrs. Amanda Hill, Program Coordinator
Administrative Assistant, Teacher Education, 110 Hughes Hall, Pittsburg
State Telephone: 620-235-4489 E-mail: ahill@pittstate.edu
Dr. Charles Kent Runyan, Mentor Trainer,
Professor, 117-C Hughes Hall, Pittsburg State University
Telephone: 620-235-4497 E-mail: krunyan@pittstate.edu
Dr. Rozanne Sparks, Early Career Trainer 1st Year
Director of Teacher Education, 110 Hughes Hall, Pittsburg State University
Telephone: 620-235-4488 E-mail: rsparks@pittstate.edu
Dr. Marilyn Dishman-Horst, Early Career Trainer 2-3rd Year
Assistant Professor, 117-E Hughes Hall, Pittsburg State University
Telephone: 620-235-6134 E-mail: mdishman@pittstate.edu
College Credit: Again we will offer 3 hr. of graduate college credit
during the second semester for both the early career teacher and the
mentor.
Materials: All materials will be included in manuals. Additionally, all
participants will use PSU’s web-based ANGEL to provide for open
collaboration.
Cost: A $900 fee for the mentor/early career couple is assessed that
covers the materials, books, trainer and speaker stipends, dinners,
banquets, and motel rooms at the KSDE conference.
We plan to have an exciting year with numerous interactive activities and
motivational speakers to help increase collegiality, reduce isolation and
stress, meet the personal and professional needs of our teachers, and
generally improve classroom instruction. As an administrator you are
welcome at any of our sessions.
We sincerely believe this program offers a viable avenue to retain and
develop our new teachers. It has been ten years in the making. No better
testimony could be offered than from last year’s participants: 100% of the
mentors and mentees answered yes to:
Would you recommend that this program be continued next year?
Would you recommend that all beginning professionals participate in such a
3.1o Kansas Teachers Academy Memo
program?
If you are interested and have questions, call any of us. If you wish to
participate, we ask that by Friday, August 22, you send us the possible
number of participants and by Friday, Sept 5th, the names of each early
career teacher and mentor by school.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Kent Runyan
Rozanne Sparks
Marilyn Dishman-Horst
Amanda Hill