Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Teacher Professional Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lincoln County Schools outlines new teacher academy, recruitment and retention efforts
Summary
At the Feb. 25 Lincoln County Board of Education meeting, staff described the district's New Teacher Academy: monthly meetings, stipends, a self-paced Schoology course and college career-fair recruitment aimed at improving teacher retention.
Steve Gaines, a Lincoln County Schools staff member, told the Lincoln County Board of Education on Feb. 25 that the district's New Teacher Academy is designed to orient and support teachers early in their careers.
Gaines said the program began in 2021 and meets once a month at the board office for about an hour. The program currently has about 13 participants, which Gaines said include new teachers, long-term substitutes and teachers in alternative certification pathways. "We try to make things as easy and stress free as possible," Gaines said of the supports the academy provides.
Gaines outlined the academy's schedule and supports: an initial orientation in August that provided contacts and assistance with payroll and technology, monthly topical sessions (October, November, December and February this school year), and a self-paced Schoology course that staff estimate takes about 20 hours and is due June 1. Sessions have covered APL instructional strategies, Schoology, classroom management and technology integration; Gaines said the program includes a stipend for participants.
District staff also described outreach efforts to recruit teachers at area college career fairs. Gaines and other staff said they plan to attend events at Marshall, Fairmont and regional campuses including the University of Charleston and West Virginia University, and noted competition for new teachers from neighboring counties. Gaines said the district emphasizes stipends and other supports alongside salary to attract candidates.
Board members asked about retention among program participants. Gaines said the district retains most teachers who go through the academy, noting departures are mostly due to retirement rather than moves to other systems or leaving the profession. He also highlighted the district's emphasis on an alternative certification pathway to expand the pool of certified teachers.
The presentation concluded with an invitation for board members to propose topics they would like added to the academy and a brief description of ongoing recruitment activities.
Gaines closed the item by summarizing the program's goals and inviting questions.
