New Teacher Community

New Teacher Community Offerings

• Educational Enrichment Grants

  We offer small educational grants to support teaching and professional development.  Our beginning teachers can apply for funds to be used for:

  • Classroom supplies for specific projects and curriculum enhancement,
  • Teacher enrichment and professional development, such as attending a conference or workshop,
  • Membership in a professional organization.
     

  Priority is given to first-time applicants and teachers in their first three years of full-time teaching. Applicants must be graduates of an undergraduate or graduate degree program from Lesley University. Requests should be limited to no more than $400.00 in funding support.

  Applications for the educational enrichment grants are accepted once each academic year. The application due date is January 31, 2018, and all receipts for funds awarded must be submitted within 60 days of incurring the expense.

  View the 2018 grant application (DOC).

• Support for New Teachers Through Consultation

  To provide support to and help our recent teaching graduates refine their skills or problem-solve classroom issues, the NTC offers professional consultation/mentoring by Lesley faculty and veteran teachers. The consultation and any discussion is strictly confidential.

  Guidelines for Working with a Consultant/Mentor

  • The NTC consultant and the classroom teacher mutually decide on the best format for the consultation: in the teacher's classroom, online, or by telephone.
  • If an on-site (classroom) consultation is chosen, the teacher must obtain prior written approval from the school administrator to host a visit.
  • Prior to the visit, the consultant and the teacher have a discussion, to provide focus for the observation.
  • After the observation, an hour is allowed for discussion.
  • The consultant checks back within the month of the observation to see how things are going and if there are any more questions. If a second visit is desired, this may be requested and arranged.
     

  If you are interested in working with a consultant/mentor, please email Andi Edson to explain what kind of expertise you need, and we will make an appropriate match.

• Professional Development Activities

  We offer four free professional development workshops each year. Recent workshops have covered practical issues such as classroom management, communication skills, trauma and resilience, discipline and behavior issues, parent-teacher relationships, closing the school year, technology, STEAM, and curriculum integration. Our workshop panels are composed of experienced teachers and administrators chosen for their knowledge and ability to work with novice teachers. These events bring together beginning teachers in a non-evaluative and open forum with experienced teachers who share expertise, strategies, and their thinking about schooling and teaching practices.

• Beginning Teacher Support Group

  The NTC offers a monthly support group for up to twelve teachers in their first or second year of teaching. Meeting agendas are based on the needs of the participants and include ongoing discussion of pertinent issues, problem-solving, and structured conversation. These groups provide a safe and non-judgmental forum that is not linked to teachers’ school settings.

  If you are interested in joining the support group, please contact one of the faculty facilitators:

  • Marcia Bromfield: mbromfie@lesley.edu
  • Harriet Deane: hdeane@lesley.edu
  • Nancy Roberts: nroberts@lesley.edu