Home Mission, Vison, Beliefs Curriculum Special Education Professional Education Teacher Induction Technology Facilities Student Activities Acknowledgements

Committee Co-Chairs:

Anthony DiTommaso, Esq., Director of Human Resources

Dr. Laura Davis, High School Principal

The No Child Left Behind Law requires districts to hire and retain highly qualified educators. While PRSD is fortunate that motivated students, competitive compensation and state-of-the art facilities attract hundreds of applicants for each opening, a major focal point of the strategic plan is to improve the induction program.

New teachers who join the PR staff are required to complete an intensive, two-day orientation program prior to the first day of school, which includes discussion on district policies and procedures and training on technological resources. Training does not end until teachers have completed their first full year with the district, and they receive feedback from their principals, peers and mentors based on in-person visits to the new teachers’ classrooms.

The committee recommends:

  • Extending the induction period from one year to two years, with the ultimate goal of further extending it to a three-year program by 2012 to allow the new staff members to work more closely with their mentors
  • Developing a mentoring team at each building and district wide
  • Providing additional training for those on the induction teams

New teachers and their mentors should meet during regularly scheduled meetings. The district should develop a yearly calendar of events or meetings, which will be mandated for all mentors and newly inducted teachers.

The PDE monitors teaching status as “highly qualified” through a series of procedures including pre-employment certification, ongoing learning and self-improvement (Act 48 credits) and performance review forms (PDE forms 426, 427 and 428). The committee recommends the district write a new evaluation plan based on the PDE forms, so PR evaluations are closely in sync with state procedures.

“"The teacher is the one who gets the most out of lessons, and the true teacher is the learner."”

Elbert Hubbard, Editor, Publisher & Writer