What is the importance of induction, orientation, and mentoring?

 

1. What is the importance of induction?

       According to Rebore (2015), induction is the process designed to acquaint newly employed individuals with the community, the school district, and their colleagues. The primary goals of an induction program are to help new or newly assigned employees adjust to the social and job related aspects of the work environment, to reduce the anxiety associated with beginning a new job, and to help the new employee feel positive about having accepted the position. Teachers have learned about life in schools through their college preparation programs. However, some non-certificated personnel have never worked in school and the allocation of funds has lagged behind (Learning module, 2021). Therefore, it is crucial to provide classified employees with more effective induction, orientation, and mentoring. In addition, handbooks, site induction, job training and ongoing training are very helpful to all the employees, certificated and classified. 

       A few weeks ago, a teacher asked a question in our Southern California Chinese Teachers Association social media “I began to teach in a school in LASD, I was told that I am going to be in their induction program. As a veteran teacher with over ten years teaching experience in another state, do I have to be in their induction program?”  When I saw her question I was reading Chapter 5 Placement and Induction of Rebore (2015). I am glad I was able to explain to her that the induction is not only for the newly hired teachers, but also for the reassigned teachers like her. As Rebore (2015) mentions reassigned employees need to be acquainted with their new school, program and colleagues. He also provides

some universal objectives of the induction which are “Make the employee feel welcome and secure. Help employees become a member of the team. Inspire the employee toward excellence in performance. Provider information about the community, school system, school building, faculty, and students.” … This teacher appreciated my explanation and expressed that she began to feel much released after realizing it is not a new teacher evaluation process. I am very happy I was able to help her with the knowledge I learned from this class. 

2. What is the importance of orientation?

     According to  Employee Orientation Bill (AB 119), “New employee orientation” means the onboarding process of a newly hired public employee in which employees are advised of their employment status, rights, benefits, duties and responsibilities, and any other employment related matters. It does not matter which medium the orientation takes place in, whether it is in person, online, or through other mediums. Orienting a new employee to a particular school begins with an introduction to the other staff members. A tour of the facility and an explanation of administrative procedures, as well as an orientation to the instructional program, are also important aspects of this induction (Rebore, 2015). In my school, in the first staff meeting of each new school year, the principal introduces the new certificated and classified employees to the staff and we welcome them to join us. As a future administrator, I would like to offer a tour of the facility and an explanation of administrative procedures and instructional programs and other effective orientation activities to the induction. 

3. What is the importance of mentoring?

       Rebore (2015) states the importance of the mentor program. Rebore (2015) argues the experienced teacher can act as a role model and, through coaching, can help the beginning teacher develop his or her competencies, self-esteem, and sense of professionalism. I wish I had a mentor teacher when I began to teach in my school. I received the teaching position as an intern instead of a student teaching status. I was happy that I got paid as an intern, however soon I realized how much more helpful it would be if I had a mentor who could demonstrate how to teach, conduct classroom management, assessment, and communication with parents/guardians. I also needed the mentor teacher to observe my teaching and provide me with instructional feedback to help me find my teaching strengths and areas that need to improve. I truly understand the significance of the meteor to the new teacher and I hope all certificated and classified employees would have the opportunity to have a mentor or be a mentor to others to offer high quality work to students with equity.

      

How is your induction, orientation, and mentoring experience? What support do you need?

      Mentoring Illustration, by Kuba, https://openclipart.org/detail/333210/mentoring-illustration

Resources:

2021. Learning modules. CUI class materials.

Legislature Passes Employee Orientation Bill (AB 119) – What Do Public Employers Need to Know? California Public Agency Labor and Employment Blog.

https://www.calpublicagencylaboremploymentblog.com/labor-relations/legislature-passes-employee-orientation-bill-ab-119-what-do-public-employers-need-to-know/

Rebore, R. 2015. Human Resources Administration in Education. Pearson.