^{12:00 pm PST / 3:00 pm EST}

The landscape of teacher preparation is evolving, including the pathways to and demographics of teachers entering schools. How can we ensure induction programs and mentoring are responsive to this new reality while leveraging the research foundation to support teacher success?

This webinar offers a superintendent’s view on:

• Key opportunities and challenges in adapting mentoring for diverse pathways into teaching
• Offering solid mentoring programs as a retention and recruitment tool
• Mentor-centric strategies to welcome, guide, and empower new teachers from day one
• Critical questions for induction program designers to meet the needs of Gen Z educators, teachers of color, and career changers — groups that are reshaping the educator pipeline

Join us to explore practical approaches and bold ideas for creating induction and mentoring systems that meet the needs of today’s (and tomorrow’s) educators and lay the foundation for their long-term professional success.

^Featuring:

• ^{Dr. Sharon Contreras, former superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools}
• ^{Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell, Superintendent of Oakland Unified School District}
• ^{Dr. Barbara Jenkins, former superintendent of Orange County Public Schools (CA)}

^{10:00 am PST / 1:00 pm EST}

Teacher residency programs are redefining educator preparation, and their success hinges, in large part, on mentorship that seamlessly connects classroom theory with real-world practice. Sustained, embedded mentoring can provide residents with the tailored support they need to navigate the challenges of school environments while strengthening their on-the-job learning experiences.

This webinar invites district leaders and higher education audiences to explore what it takes to support the long-term success of beginning educators in today’s residency programs.

Join us for a candid conversation about:

• What’s working in mentoring and residencies: What mentoring practices have proven most effective in supporting teacher residents? How do we ensure continuity from residency-aligned mentoring through the transition to district induction programs and beyond?
• Innovative approaches to embedded mentoring: What are the key components of effective, sustained, and embedded mentoring models? How can residencies and districts work together to design new models of support?
• Tailored mentorship for diverse school environments: What strategies ensure that mentorship is responsive to the dynamics of the schools served? How can mentors help residents build resilience and problem-solving skills to address the challenges they face in their placements?

This discussion will focus on ideas and collaborative solutions to ensure the strength of mentoring in residency programs is sustained and supports seamless transitions for new teachers to thrive in classrooms.

^Featuring:

• ^{Kathlene Campbell, CEO of National Center for Teacher Residencies}
• ^{Sara DeLano, Dean, Educator Pathways at Dallas College}
• ^{Elizabeth Hearn, Director of Programs at National Center for Teacher Residencies}

^{11:00 am PST / 2:oo pm EST}

As more districts explore innovative staffing models to address teacher shortages, rethinking and adapting induction and mentoring must be part of the equation. This webinar brings together teacher workforce innovators for a candid conversation as we consider new roles for teachers and mentors in an evolving education landscape. We’ll discuss:

• Lessons learned: What insights have leaders learned from pilot programs about mentoring in innovative staffing models? What strategies are proving most effective?
• Practical and bold adaptations: How can mentoring and induction programs adapt to support teachers in different staffing structures? What are the essentials that we need to keep and what are the bold changes we need to pursue?
• Long-term investment: What strategies can better embed collaboration, observation, and feedback as core practices in new staffing models? How can mentoring extend beyond traditional mentor-teacher relationships to accelerate teacher growth and student success?

Join us for an engaging session on optimizing mentoring and induction to invest in the next generation of educators.

^Featuring:

• ^{Brent Maddin, Executive Director of ASU’s Next Education Workforce}
• ^{Lennon Audrain, Research Assistant Professor in Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation}
• ^{Dena Slanda, Senior TA Consultant in the Education and Instruction division at AIR}
• ^{Lisa Lachlan-Hache, Managing TA Consultant in the Education and Instruction division at AIR}

^{11:00 am PST / 2:oo pm EST}

Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher pathways are gaining momentum as a strategy to address teacher shortages, expand the educator workforce, and strengthen the alignment between communities and schools. However, these programs vary widely in design, quality, and outcomes — raising important questions about how to ensure success for candidates and the districts they serve.

Join us for an engaging webinar to explore the pivotal role mentoring can and should play in GYO pathway programs. From guiding candidates through the certification process to shaping induction programs that support seamless transitions, mentors are key to candidate success. We’ll discuss:

• The critical components of well-designed, mentor-guided GYO programs: What makes mentorship effective across the continuum of candidates’ early teaching experiences?
• Challenges and opportunities in GYO pathways: How can mentoring address variability in candidate preparation and support to ensure high-quality outcomes?
• The evolving role of mentors: How can mentors support certification, reduce stress, and mitigate attrition of GYO candidates or new GYO teachers?
• Measuring impact: What are stakeholders doing to evaluate the effectiveness of GYO programs and the role of mentorship?

Whether you’re a policymaker, district leader, or educator, this webinar will provide valuable insights into the future of GYO programs and how mentorship can help shape their success.

^Featuring:

• ^{Amaya Garcia, Director of PreK–12 Research and Practice at New America}
• ^{Jason Greenberg Motamedi, Managing Researcher at Education Northwest}

Mentoring is at the heart of successful Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher programs, shaping the experiences and outcomes of candidates while addressing workforce needs. But what do GYO candidates truly need from mentoring, and how are districts evolving their approaches and practices to meet these demands?

Join us for a dynamic discussion to explore the future of mentoring in GYO initiatives. We’ll dive into:

• Lessons learned and future directions: What insights can we elevate and learn from on what’s working, what isn’t, and where mentoring needs to go next?
• Who GYO candidates are and what they need: How can and should we tailor mentoring to support different candidate pools as they navigate preparation?
• State-level strategies: How can states support GYO programs to sustain high-quality mentoring and measure its impact?
• The evolving role of mentoring: What opportunities are there for mentorship in GYO to create stronger pipelines, better-prepared candidates, and lasting impact on student outcomes?

This webinar will feature real-world experiences and actionable insights from leaders shaping GYO programs at all levels. The conversation will equip you with new learning on elevating mentoring practices in designing GYO initiatives.

^Featuring:

• ^{Dr. Sarena Shivers Executive Director at Talent Together}
• ^{Sophie Meuch, Educator Development Specialist at Talent Together}
• ^{Nicole Sinclair Educator Development Specialist at Talent Together}
• ^{Tawnya Lubbes, Associate Professor of Education, Eastern Oregon University}
• ^{Kristen Pratt, Associate Professor, Education & Leadership, Western Oregon University}
• ^{Dr. Lynne Gardner, Senior Policy Analyst, Educator Pathways and Workforce Initiatives, Educator Advancement Council}