Middleton EA receives award for partnership
A new teacher induction program in Middleton on Friday (June 29, 2007) received a national award for exemplary partnership between the Middleton Education Association and the local school district.
Middleton was one of six education associations in the nation to be honored through the annual NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Awards. The awards were presented in Philadelphia as part of pre-convention activities for the NEA’s annual meeting.
The awards, launched in 1997, show appreciation for joint efforts to retain great teachers in our public school classrooms throughout the nation.
“A great teacher is in the driver’s seat of every great public school classroom,” said NEA President Reg Weaver. “The six recipients of this year’s NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Awards steer local education associations and school districts toward innovative ways to assist new teachers in their careers, thanks in part to their collaborative efforts.”
The Middleton Education Association and Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District was recognized for a program called Supportive Training to Actively Retain Teachers (START). The new teacher induction program identifies best practices, reflects cultural changes and improves student achievement. The two-year START program is designed and negotiated to go beyond a traditional school orientation session. Its purpose is to make every new teacher feel valued and part of the whole system, pairing new teachers or less experienced teachers who are new to the district with experienced district teachers. The program begins with a two-day induction class on classroom management, district culture, performance expectations and includes district tours.
Awards were also presented to education associations and school districts in the states of Kansas, New York, and Ohio.
The winning partnerships were judged on criteria including a strong mentoring program, differentiated staffing for novice teachers, common planning time, ongoing professional development, access to an external network of teachers, and standards-based evaluation. A total of 68 school districts in partnership with NEA local affiliates from 25 states have received this prestigious award over the past decade.
Posted July 2, 2007