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An Overview of Norwalk’s Mentoring and Induction Program

The Iowa Mentoring and Induction Program began as part of the Iowa Teacher Quality legislation enacted in 2001. Every beginning educator in the first or second year of the profession enters into a two-year induction program that addresses personal and professional needs and trains him or her on the eight Iowa Teaching Standards.

Norwalk’s Mentoring and Induction Program is a fundamental component of our Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) System.  Our specific goals for mentoring and induction are:

  1. To improve student achievement through promoting excellence in teaching.
  2. To expand and increase opportunities for meaningful feedback, support, and collaboration for teachers new to our district through a comprehensive, multi-year mentoring and induction program.
  3. To support continuous improvement through job-embedded professional learning and coaching.

The Iowa Teaching Standards serve as the guiding outcomes that drive Norwalk’s Mentoring and Induction Program.

Iowa Teaching Standards

  1. Demonstrates ability to enhance academic performance and support for implementation of the school district’s student achievement goals.
  2. Demonstrates competence in content knowledge appropriate to the teaching position.
  3. Demonstrates competence in planning and preparing for instruction.
  4. Uses strategies to deliver instruction that meets the multiple learning needs of students.
  5. Uses a variety of methods to monitor student learning.
  6. Demonstrates competence in classroom management.
  7. Engages in professional growth.
  8.  Fulfills professional responsibilities established by the school district.

To learn more about Norwalk’s Mentoring and Induction Program, please review our Mentoring and Induction Handbook.