Community High School District 99's New Teacher Induction and Mentor Programs strive to support new teachers in becoming the very best educators that they can be.

The goal of the nationally award-winning program is to give new teachers the tools to walk into the classroom the first day with confidence, to make the job more effective, less anxious and more rewarding.

In the New Teachers' Academy, teachers learn the rules and policies, tour the school, go through a simulated day, and learn about the school's services and labs and record keeping. Most valuable is meeting with their mentor, a veteran teacher in their school.

The Mentor Program is a three-year process in which new teachers meet regularly with mentors to discuss a structured list of such things as school rules, managing the classroom and teaching strategies.

Both programs add up to the District's core mission: student learning and achievement. Below are comments of teachers and administrators who have praised the program.

"Hiring teachers is one of the most important things we do"
-- Administrator

"The mentor and induction program is fantastic. It kept me from really struggling that first year on the job."
-- New teacher

"With dedicated, hard-working teachers who are quickly acclimated to the school, we can really make a difference with students."
-- Department Chair

"The mentor program matching new teachers with veterans has been praised as one more way to attract and retain quality teachers in the District."
-- Administrator