Changes to Teacher Mentor Program

By Bob Lipscombe

The Teacher Mentor Program to support beginning teachers will continue in 2007 and 2008, but with some significant changes.

Changes include the granting of head teacher/assistant principal status and transfer rights to those appointed to 1.0 positions for 2007-08. Currently 1.0 appointees receive the salary of a head teacher/assistant principal but do not have head teacher assistant principal status for other purposes.

Although Federation welcomes the continuation of the program and the creation of the 36 new permanent promotions positions, the union is disappointed that the program has not been expanded to support all beginning teachers across the state. Initially established in 2003 as a result of campaigning by the Federation, all evaluations of the program have shown it to be an outstanding success where implemented. Federation's policy, however, calls for the appointment of 300 teacher mentors to provide support for all beginning teachers and not just those in the 97 schools announced for 2007-08.

With more than 30 per cent of teachers expected to retire over the next five years, Federation has made support for beginning teachers one of its priority demands of the State Government in 2006 and in the lead up to the March 2007 state election. In addition to the expansion of teacher mentor numbers, Federation is also campaigning for reduced teaching loads for both new teachers and mentor teachers, including the allocation of an additional two hours relief from face-to-face teaching for new teachers.

Features of the 2007-08 program

• The number of teacher mentor positions will be maintained at 50 full time equivalent (FTE) positions across the state, with 97 schools to receive an allocation for the two years.
• 25 schools in the 2005-06 program will not receive an allocation in 2007. The majority of these schools are currently allocated 0.33 of a teacher mentor, although six have a current allocation of 1.0.
• A school's inclusion in the program is based upon the numbers of permanent beginning teachers allocated to the school in 2005, 2006 and anticipated numbers in 2007. All 97 schools in the 2007-08 program will have more permanent beginning teachers than those removed from the program.
• Temporary teachers are not counted when determining a school's inclusion or removal. However, 2.0 of the 50 FTE positions have been allocated to provide support for temporary teachers in 10 schools in south western Sydney.
• All teacher mentors will be appointed for a two-year term.
• Each teacher mentor appointed to a 1.0 position (whether in one school or across schools) will now be appointed to a permanent position and have both the status and salary of either a head teacher or an assistant principal, with nominated transfer status for head teacher or assistant principal positions (including other teacher mentor positions) consistent with their qualifications at the end of their two-year appointment. However, they will not be appointed permanently to the staff of the particular school.
• 36 additional permanent head teacher or an assistant principal promotions positions will be created as a result of the changes.
• Teacher mentors appointed to less than a 1.0 position will receive the salary of but not have the status of a head teacher or an assistant principal. Consequently, they will not have the right to transfer as a head teacher or an assistant principal.
• All 1.0 teacher mentor positions will be advertised generally and filled through the merit selection process, with the normal merit selection panel being convened at the base school. It should be noted that as a transition arrangement only and following negotiations with the Federation, the 1.0 positions will proceed straight to open advertisement, without expressions of interest being sought first. This will provide existing teacher mentors with an opportunity to apply in some cases for positions they currently occupy.
• Fractional positions will be filled through expressions of interest within the particular school. Schools which receive 0.33 appointments will be allocated 67 release days for the designated teacher mentor.

Bob Lipscombe is the Senior Vice President.

For further information

November 2006 contents