LANSING – The Michigan Department of Education has launched three new resources that work together to ensure quality teachers in Michigan classrooms and support new teachers.
"To ensure high achievement and success for our students, we must have high quality teachers in our classrooms," said State Board of Education President Kathleen Straus. "These new tools will help equip all of our educators with the knowledge and foundation they need to lead effective classrooms."
These resources are:
All three resources were developed with input from professional educators and college and university teacher preparation programs.
The new state standards provide a framework for quality teacher preparation and practice during the teacher’s career. They focus on expectations in curriculum knowledge and teaching skills of a Michigan educator.
These standards establish a continuous system for professional growth for teachers to maximize their effectiveness in promoting student achievement. With these standards, an educator can realize a quality experience with the weaving together of
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entry-level standards and related proficiencies for Michigan teachers
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teacher induction and mentoring standards
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an updated vision and standards for the professional learning of Michigan educators
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preparation standards for administrators
The Advocating Strong Standards-Based Induction Support for Teachers (ASSIST) website provides resources to new and experienced teachers alike. During their first few years, new teachers continue to refine their content knowledge and teaching skills through classroom-based learning experiences. Michigan currently has 12,930 new teachers in their first three years.
ASSIST provides easily accessible professional development resources to develop teacher mentors; support professional growth; and inspire educators toward continued learning. Through this online resource, experienced teachers also will be able to refresh and extend their professional learning as their teaching assignments may change.
"Being highly qualified is an ongoing process and one of ASSIST’s main goals is to provide current educators opportunities for continuous professional growth," said Michigan’s Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jeremy Hughes, Ph.D.
During a recent conference with local school administrators and teachers to rollout these new teacher tools, one participant expressed how refreshing it was to see these standards and resources working together.
"Of course, I've seen these standards many times, but individually they were not as meaningful or useful," said Helene Lusa, the principal at Tyler Elementary School in Livonia Public Schools. "Seeing them presented this way, in a continuum, represents a complete picture of the professional educator."
For the first time, Michigan has a issued a Professional Educator’s Code of Ethics that highlights the professional educator’s commitment to the student and the teaching profession. This Code, approved by the State Board of Education, helps to ensure that all teachers are aware of the expectations for professional and ethical behavior.
A copy of the Professional Educator’s Code of Ethics is being mailed to every Michigan teacher preparation institution and local school district. The State Board strongly encourages each teacher preparation institution to provide this Code of Ethics to all teacher candidates early in their preparation program. With the idea that if the Code is referenced often, each new educator will understand the responsibility a teacher accepts upon entering the classroom.
"Local school districts may wish to provide a copy of this document to teachers as a reminder of their commitment to the children and families of the local community," Hughes said.
The Code of Ethics embraces the values of Service Toward the Common Good; Mutual Respect; Equity; Diversity; and Truth and Honesty.
Michigan Department of Education
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/
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