WHAT IS INDUCTION?

Nearly every school in the Anchorage School District has an induction team consisting of the building principal and one or more liaisons.  The induction team provides intentional orientation for new-to-building educators and on-going professional support as part of a multi-year support network.

INDUCTION PURPOSE:

    * Establish a sense of school community that values professional dialogue and a common language to describe best practice
    * Link educators to a variety of support systems within the building and district
    * Guide the design and implementation of professional development that is responsive to the diverse needs of educators during their initial years in a school

INDUCTION STANDARDS:

The Anchorage School District’s Induction program incorporates these seven standards:

Philosophy: The induction team describes their philosophy of induction and demonstrates its relationship to their practice.

Acculturation:  The induction team supports the immersion of the new employee in the school vision, mission, goals, and school community.

Survival:  The induction team assists in the new employees’ understanding of district and school procedures and introduces them to a variety of supporting program staff.

Learning Theory and Practice: The induction team understands how adults learn and applies that knowledge in their induction program.

Diversity: The induction team uses knowledge of diversity when planning induction activities.

Mentoring: The induction team provides access to AEA/ASD Mentoring and Coaching Program to enhance professional growth and development.

Assessment: The induction team facilitates, monitors, and assesses the induction program.

BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS:

    * Increased sense of professional efficacy
    * Greater job satisfaction
    * More frequent professional collaboration
    * Educator retention in building, district, and profession
    * Student achievement

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Visit the Training & Professional Development website for information and resources: http://www.asdk12.org/depts/staff_dev/mentoring.asp

Anna Knapp (Central Region)                    742-3716
Sonnet Farrell (Northern Region)               742-3861
Sandi Toth (Southern Region)                    742-3719