Induction

The Professional Personnel Development Center for Vocational Teacher Education offers statewide programs to meet the inservice needs of high school teachers in the agricultural sciences especially those who are new teachers. "New," in this case, is defined as teachers who meet any of the following criteria:

1. Are first through third year teachers
2. Have come to PA to teach for the first time
3. Had left teaching, but returned this year

If you fit any of these criteria and are not already in the new teacher induction database, contact the Center to be included in the database. Please contact Cathie Graham, crg11@psu.edu.

Further Work of the Center in Assisting New Teachers
The Center has spent time assessing the needs of beginning high school agricultural science teachers and then identifying and contracting with resource people who can fulfill the needs of beginning teachers. To assess needs, teachers who taught from 1-3 years were asked via regional teachers' meetings, mail, and/or electronic surveys to identify their most common needs and frustrations.

Once needs were identified, instructors were sought by 1) asking faculty members throughout the department and college, 2) searching the internet, 3) calling professors who were listed on various mailings received, 4) seeking input from teachers throughout the state, and 5) working through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Based upon identified needs, the Center has developed, offered, coordinated and taught numerous non-credit workshops and activities for teachers in technical agriculture as well as pedagogical enhancement.

With assistance from Dr. Phil Ogline, Mr. Doyle Paul, Mr. Ron Frederick and AEE Faculty, new teachers who request it receive on-site visitation and assistance from Penn State. A form is sent to each new teacher in the new teacher mailing in September. Once the form is returned to us, a day is scheduled for us to visit your school.

Through PAAE, a mentor program is also available. Contact Ms. Krista Pontius at Greenwood High School to arrange to have a mentor teacher from your locality assigned to you.

I hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities provided through the New Teacher Induction Program.