Local school educators, policy-makers and researchers willgather at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis and the FogelmanExecutive Center this weekend for the First Annual InductionSymposium, sponsored by the New Teacher Center at The U of M.
The weekend-long symposium will provide participants with abetter understanding of the research and results of the NTC at TheU of M and will feature speakers such as Carol Johnson,superintendent for Memphis City Schools, Sarah Lewis, commissioneron the Board of Education for Memphis City Schools, and Dan Ward,deputy superintendent for Memphis City Schools.
The symposium, scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday, isopen to anyone interested in improving schools, said Vivian Morris,director of the NTC and assistant dean for Faculty Development inthe College of Education.
Around 100 to 150 people are expected to attend this weekend'sevent. A variety of participants, including superintendents,principals, parents, school board members and administrators, arescheduled to attend.
The U of M NTC was established last spring and was modeled aftera similar program established in 1988 at the University ofCalifornia-Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz project influences the NTC at The U of M in manyways, Morris said.
"Mentors from the Santa Cruz NTC come to The U of M four times ayear to participate in a mentor academy," Morris said.
Ellen Moir, executive director of the NTC at the University ofCalifornia-Santa Cruz, is scheduled to speak at this weekend'ssymposium.
The idea of the program has already begun to spread throughoutthe country, Morris said.
For the past year, NTC staff members have mentored newelementary school teachers in Memphis City Schools. They plan toextend their reach to other school districts and school levels inthe next few years.
Veteran teachers from Memphis City Schools and several U of Mfaculty members make up the staff of The U of M NTC.
The purpose of the NTC is to provide individual support tobeginning teachers, to retain good teachers and to improve teacherand student development, Morris said.
"Our ultimate goal is to improve student achievement byimproving the quality of teachers," she said. "This is accomplishedby providing teachers with support in their first two years."
Research has shown that, in terms of achievement, students ofnew teachers who had participated in the NTC surpassed the studentsof veteran teachers who had not participated in the program, Morrissaid.
"When teachers get this support, it improves their development,"she said.
