This document provides guidance on developing an effective new teacher induction program to enhance school culture. It recommends including a full-day orientation before the school year with activities like school tours, introductions to mentors and colleagues, and modeling best teaching practices. Formal mentor training and regular mentor observations of new teachers are also suggested. The goal is to build relationships, increase comfort, share expectations, and inspire new teachers through a well-planned induction program and mentoring support.

1. Cooking up
Culture
The perfect recipe for
enhancing school culture
through new teacher
induction.
Maureen Cohen, Director of Curriculum, Mendon-Upton Regional School District
mcohen@mursd.org
maureenmcohen@blogspot.com
@mcohenmursd

2. “If anyone can cook up some positive culture…an
assistant principal can.”

3. The Menu for Today
• To set goals and develop ideas for a new
teacher orientation and induction program at
your school
• To identify key components of a successful
mentor program

4. What is the recipe for success
at your school for new
teachers?

5. What is the recipe for success at
your school for new teachers?

6. What do you remember from your first
year of teaching?

8. Turn your Recipe into
Goals for Induction
Recipe
Goals for
new teachers

9. My Goals Were…
• Build Relationships: To get to know the new staff and for
them to get to know each other and the school.
• Increase Comfort: To make them feel comfortable before
school, to get to know staff and me, time to ask questions
• Share Expectations: To share expectations about classroom
environment, student learning, building rules
• Model Practices: To model some best practices that they
can take into the classroom right away and apply
• Inspire: To help inspire them as they embark on their new
journey in our district

10. Key Ingredients for Induction
• Induction—Full Day (1-2 days)—pick date early and share date
when hired.
• Send formal invite letters to new teachers, share email for
questions, share mentor contact info, share curriculum and
faculty handbooks
• Tour of school
• Invite mentors
• New Teacher Lunch
• Invite students to speak about the school
• Invite past new teachers to talk about culture
• Time in their room
• Access provided for email, student management system
• Gift Bag welcoming them, sign on door to classroom

11. Modeling Best Practices
1. Getting to Know Your Students (Handout)
• Two Truths and a Lie
• Pennant
• Word Cloud
• Shield
2. Total Participation Techniques (Handout)
• Chalk Talk
• Quick Draw
• Quick Write
• Simile
3. Inspire High Expectations for Learning

12. • Discussion---Do you teach or do you
educate?
• What does an excellent teacher look like?
(web activity)
• Share story of expectations
Inspiring High Expectations

13. New Teacher Workshops
New Teachers are required to go through
an induction program---so you can design
whatever works for you! Embrace your
inner chef and mix it up as needed.
Potential Topics:
• Educator Evaluation
• Classroom Environment
• Parent Engagement
• Lesson Planning/Organization
• Assessment
• Special Education/Inclusive Practices

14. Provide them with the
right tools

15. We all need a good
mentor…even Gordon
Ramsay

16. A Perfect Mix of Mentoring

17. A Perfect Blend:
Mentor Matches
• Same Subject /Grade Level
• Common Prep Time
• Proximity (School/Classroom)
• Shared mentors do not work well
• Match them early once the new hire
comes on board
• Avoid having dept chairs as
mentors if possible
• Provide opportunities to develop
new mentors who are the right kind
of mentors for your culture. It does
not have to stay how it always has.

18. Culinary School:
Mentor Training
• 6 hour training
• Session 1: What a New Teacher
Might Face
• Session 2: Enriching and
Strengthening the Mentoring
Relationship
• Session 3: Adult Learning
• Session 4: Mentor Observations

19. Cookbook:
Mentor Handbook

20. Taste Test:
Mentor Observations
In order to support your new teachers you need to
get inside their classrooms to get a taste of what is
taking place.
Recommended at least 2 times a year—once each
semester
Mentor Observation Forms
Train them in observing and looking for data, how to
have conversations with their new teachers.
Expect that new teachers have to do observations
as well—2 times a year.

21. Cooking up Culture with New Teacher
Induction
It takes a lot of ingredients.
The right mix of spices.
Taste tests.
Recipes
And time….
Eventually you will be able to say…
“Nailed it!”