TO:             District Facilitator of Mentoring and Induction

FROM:       Judy Jeffrey, Director

RE:             Surveys of 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Year Teachers, Mentors, and Principals

DATE:         April 8, 2008

The Iowa Department of Education is asking for your assistance in conducting an evaluation of teacher preparation programs and the state mentoring/induction program.

In the next few weeks you will receive an email with instructions to forward a survey link to beginning teachers, mentors, and site administrators. Beginning teachers include first-year, second-year, and third-year teachers who have not completed the Comprehensive Evaluation and are still eligible to receive mentoring support.

1)    Surveys for first-year teachers, their mentors, and their principals will focus on teacher preparation. Mentors and principals will not be asked to complete more than one survey concerning first-year teachers.

2)    Surveys for second and third-year teachers, their mentors, and their principals will focus on mentoring and induction. Mentors and principals will not be asked to complete more than one survey concerning second and third-year teachers.

Research validates what we have known for a long time–education of our PK-12 students is, to a great degree, dependent on the quality of teaching. Working in collaboration with the Iowa teacher preparation programs, area education agencies, and local districts, the Department strives to continually improve the quality of the teacher workforce across the state.

We thank you for your participation in this survey and for your assistance in this important endeavor.

If you have any questions, please contact Sue Swartz at sue.swartz@iowa.gov or 515-281-6719.