University of Phoenix® College of Education Launches Induction Program for School Districts to Support K-12 Educators in First Critical Years of Teaching

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

With schools across the country facing teacher shortages¹, attracting and retaining teacher talent is critical. However, nearly one-in-five K-12 public school educators leave the professions within five years².

"Teaching is an incredibly rewarding career and, like any profession, helping those who are early in their careers effectively transition into new environments can help set them up for long-term success," said Pamela Roggeman, Ed.D., academic dean for University of Phoenix® College of Education. "No matter how talented and highly qualified teachers are in content areas, many need to continue to hone their experience in areas such as classroom management, parent engagement and leadership, particularly in the first few years of teaching. Having a support system during this transition period helps teachers to grow and refine their craft, and students reap the benefits."

In a recent University of Phoenix College of Education survey, more than three-in-five K-12 teachers cite mentorship programs that support teachers in their first few years of teaching as key in retaining talent³. Forty-six percent of those survey respondents also indicate teacher induction programs designed to mentor and provide professional development as a way to grow the teacher talent pipeline.

Recognizing the desire and need for mentorship and professional development for early-career teachers, University of Phoenix College of Education is now offering school districts a teacher induction program. It's designed to support first- and second-year teachers in areas critical to long-term success, including classroom management, lesson planning, instruction and assessment. The induction program launched in July 2016 and is available across the country. Districts that are interested in participating can work directly with University of Phoenix to implement an induction program to help prepare their teachers for classroom success.

"To ensure we retain highly talented teachers, higher education and school districts must collaborate to offer continuing teacher education and mentorship resources so new educators can be inspired by senior leadership and build professional learning and support networks," said Dr. Roggeman. "University of Phoenix College of Education is proud to offer this resource to local school districts across the country to provide teachers with the skills they need to excel and stay in the profession."

The induction program is comprised of two modules, including one concentrated on classroom best practices with focused teaching on classroom management and lesson planning, and one that focuses on instruction, assessment and evaluation. Modules may be taken together or separately. Participants who complete both modules will earn six credits that can be applied toward a Master of Arts in Education/Curriculum and Instruction at University of Phoenix. The induction courses include:

• Module One:
  • Classroom Management for New Teachers
  • Effective Lesson Planning
• Module Two:
  • Instructional Strategies
  • Assessment and Evaluation

The induction program offered by University of Phoenix College of Education can help new teachers to further hone their skills to improve their craft. Each program participant will also be paired with a district mentor to support their progress. This mentorship component is not only designed to support new teachers, but also to provide veteran teachers the opportunity to evaluate their practice, and ultimately, rally the local learning community to work toward a common goal – to advance their skills in the profession to support student learning outcomes and the quality of education.

These new course offerings are part of a larger teacher education framework designed to provide engaging and relevant academic content that helps teachers navigate current classroom dynamics and reflect the University's work to support the development of teachers. The educational framework for the induction program reflects feedback received from several State Teachers of the Year, who represent some of the best and brightest minds in K-12 classrooms and are key representatives in teacher mentoring and leadership.

For K-12 school districts interested in offering the induction program offered by University of Phoenix® College of Education, please contact Brian Lincoln at brian.lincoln@phoenix.edu or Lamar Grant at lamar.grant@phoenix.edu.

For general information about University of Phoenix programs, including on-time completion rates, the median debt incurred by students who completed the program and other important information, please visit www.phoenix.edu/programs/gainful-employment. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student's responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student's choice.

About University of Phoenix® College of Education

University of Phoenix College of Education has been educating teachers and school administrators for more than 30 years. The College of Education provides bachelor's and master's degree programs for individuals who want to become teachers or current educators and administrators seeking advanced degrees to strengthen their professional knowledge. With education programs available throughout most of the U.S., the College of Education has a distinct grasp of the national education picture and priorities for teacher preparation. Faculty members on average bring more than 17 years of professional experience to the classroom. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/education.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. APOL, University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

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¹ U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, "Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listing, 1990-1991 through 2015-2016," https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.pdf
² National Center for Education Statistics, "Public School Teacher Attrition and Mobility in the First Five Years: Results from the First Through Fifth Waves of the 2007-08 Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Study," page 6, http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2015/2015337.pdf
³ This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix between April 14 and 25, 2016. Respondents included 1,005 U.S. residents employed full-time as teachers in grades K-12 who have at least an undergraduate degree. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Tanya Burden at tanya.burden@apollo.edu.

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