NEA, UAW, Saturn Honor Six Innovative Partnerships

Districts and Local Associations Recognized for New Teacher Programs

Washington, D.C. -- The 2005 NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Awards, sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA), United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Saturn Corporation, will be presented on June 30 during the pre-convention activities for NEA's Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. The awards recognize six local education associations and school districts that have worked with educators and members of the community to attract and keep new teachers.

Nearly 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession in the first five years, and one of the key reasons cited is a lack of on-the-job support. To stop this revolving door, these award-winning programs mentor new teachers and give them other career-related support. The 2005 winning partnerships are in:

Anchorage, Alaska, where the Anchorage Education Association and the Anchorage School District match new teachers, librarians and counselors with seasoned professionals. Mentors are trained and receive a small stipend. Mentoring is not required by state law, but the local district has increased its annual support of the program over the past eight years from $10,000 to more than $200,000.

Vernon Hills, Illinois, where the Hawthorn Education Association and the Hawthorn School District #73 in 2001 transformed existing teacher mentoring into the model New Teacher Mentoring and Induction Program. Extensive training and one-on-one matching are the hallmarks of this two-year program. Teacher retention rates have risen 23 percent since the 2001-02 school year. The association and district negotiated small stipends for mentors, who give part of their summer break to participate in the program.

Zionsville, Indiana, where the Zionsville Educators' Association and the Zionsville Community Schools created a new mentoring program in 2004. New Indiana teachers receive two-year provisional licenses while they build a portfolio of evidence to document their skills. The retention rate is 98 percent. In Zionsville, these new teachers are mentored by trained, expert veteran teachers. Program benefits include graduate school credits at Purdue University, paid release time and funding for professional development and advanced technology.

Gorham, Maine, where the Gorham Teachers Association and the Gorham School District support entry level teachers through The Gorham Induction and Local Support Team Network. Teachers with less than five years of experience participate in a yearlong induction series that includes mentoring. Mentors meet regularly with new teachers, observe their classrooms and help them reach their professional goals. The University of Southern Maine offers a three-level, graduate summer course for mentors.

Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where the Beaver Dam Local Education Association and the Beaver Dam Unified School District teamed up to create the Beaver Dam Mentor Program, which is in its fourth year. Veteran teachers receive special training in stress and time management, student assessment and other classroom skills, and then are matched with new teachers during orientation week. The district has retained 84 percent of its new hires.

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, where the Wisconsin Rapids Education Association and the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools jointly support new teachers by providing  mentoring for their first three years of service. New teachers attend orientation sessions and are eligible for additional university coursework. Mentors receive training and a small stipend. The program provides new teachers with an excellent orientation to the district and teaching.

June 17, 2005

CONTACT:
Melinda Anderson (202) 822-7230

###

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, college faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.