The New Educator Training (NET) Program:
Every teacher new to Charlotte County Public Schools (regardless of the number of years of prior teaching experience) is required to participate in the NET Program for the first 180 days of employment. What does this entail?
New Educator Training Manual
CCPS New Educator Training Program Description
If the new teacher has been hired prior to the beginning of the school year, the NET Program begins with an invitation to participate in a 3-day district NET Academy. This academy is an important and highly suggested training event. Training topics at a typical Academy include district philosophy, vision, mission, and values, technology orientation, classroom management, and rigorous and relevant curriculum.
Within the first two weeks of employment, the new teacher will be assigned a peer coach by the principal. This person functions as a mentor at the school site. After the peer coach is identified, he/she meets with the NET participant and together, they agree to a number of weekly meetings throughout the school year at which they will discuss targeted topics. At the first meeting, the New Educator Training Mentor Agreement is signed and sent to the CCPS Professional Development Center.
At each of the meetings throughout the school year, the NET participant should maintain a journal log in their NET Portfolio for documentation purposes. This documentation is an important piece of the NET portfolio. Sample log forms may be found in the New Educator Training Academy Manual. Also available in the manual is a Peer Coach Discussion Topic Checklist. This resource is not a mandatory discussion checklist, but rather is intended to guide discussion during the Peer Coach/NET participant meetings. It is also suggested that the peer coach and NET participant collaborate on the writing of the Individual Professional Development Plan.
Peer Coach Log
Peer Coach Discussion Topic Checklist
Individual Professional Development Plan
Of course, perhaps the most important function of the NET Program is to provide training to teachers new to our district. Though attendance at NET training events is strictly optional, participation is highly encouraged. Participants are paid at the stipend rate for attendance. Training events are held throughout the school year. Though topics vary from year to year, typical trainings include Dr. Harry Wong’s Effective Teaching Series, Dr. Fred Jones’ Tools for Teaching, sessions on the Math, Reading, Writing, and Science FCAT Assessments, and data mining/management.
Another important piece of the NET Program for the participant is the maintenance and final submission of the NET Portfolio. The portfolio shell will be provided at the school site for the NET participant. The new teacher is encouraged to compile the portfolio throughout the first 180 days of employment. Documentation of each of the twelve Accomplished Practices for Effective Educators is required in the portfolio. Three pieces of evidence for each of the Accomplished Practices is the required minimum documentation. At the end of the year, NET participants meet with the principal and submit the portfolio. At that time, principals examine the portfolio and determine if the portfolio documents proficiency for each of the Accomplished Practices. At this meeting, the principal will also decide whether or not the NET participant meets the criteria to successfully exit the NET Program and will complete the Verification of Mastery of Florida Educators Accomplished Practices Form.
NET Portfolio Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Accomplished Practices Documentation Log
Verification of Mastery of Florida Educators Accomplished Practices Form
At the conclusion of the school year, NET participants and peer coaches are asked to complete an online survey of the New Educator Training Program. Feedback is used strictly to improve the NET Program and the job description and function of the peer coach in general.
Completed NET Portfolios are returned to NET teachers at the beginning of their second year of employment to serve as the beginning of a personal professional portfolio that the new educator will continue to update with current work samples as their career progresses.
If you have any questions regarding the CCPS New Educator Training Program, please contact Fran Holleran (Francis.Holleran@yourcharlotteschools.net), Professional Development Specialist.
