A professional development day in Clearview on March 11, 1011 was the first session with new teachers.
Clearview and Central Alberta Regional Consortium (CARC) had hoped to start earlier in the school year but health guidelines for in-person meetings delayed the gatherings.
Clearview has welcomed 15 new teachers to the division in the last two years and all were invited to attend the sessions.
The intent is to provide four full day sessions (or eight half day sessions) with a number of modules that emphasize topics and skills such as assessment, good teaching strategies, fostering effective relationships, commitment to career-long learning, building a professional body of knowledge, as well as basic information about Clearview.
“While teaching is a rewarding profession, it is also increasing in complexity,” says Daram Van Oers, Clearview Deputy Superintendent. “What we’ve learned in Alberta is that new teachers who leave the profession shortly after joining it do so because of a perceived lack of support and a struggle to feel effective and competent at their job.
That is unfortunate for the individual teachers, but also for our students and our system.
We need the energy, ideas and enthusiasm that new teachers bring to our schools.
We are hopeful this pilot program will help us address these concerns, and support teachers so they have all the tools that they need to be successful in the long term.”
“We are excited to see this pilot project get underway,” says Brenda MacDonald, Clearview Superintendent. “Clearview’s teaching group is rich in experience, wisdom and dedication. We want to do everything we can to continue to attract, retain and grow strong teachers because quality teaching is what makes the biggest difference for student learning and success.”
Jayson Lovell, former Superintendent of Wolf Creek School Division and Van Oers are leading the sessions for beginning teachers together. The next session is tentatively scheduled for April.
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