The Second Annual New Teacher Induction/Mentoring Conference will be held Feb. 27 and 28 at the Hilton, 700 E. Adams St., Springfield, Ill., with the intent to create a network of support for new teachers across the state and to improve the retention of teachers and quality in education.

Renee Clift, professor of education at the University and director of the Illinois New Teacher Collaborative, the group organizing the conference, said approximately 375 educators will attend the statewide conference in teams. Teams of each district are comprised of three to five members including one administrator, new teachers and experienced teachers.

The collaborative was founded in the fall of 2004 among educators and individuals from the business communities across the state.

“(The purpose was) to provide support for schools and districts and colleges by creating induction and mentoring programs,” Clift said.

Clift said a “quality teacher” is someone who is knowledgeable about content and the community, about students with whom they work with, and someone who is committed to improving education for all students regardless of background.

The conference is a working conference, beginning with national, local and state experts introducing the importance of induction and mentoring before giving educators the time and opportunity to formulate or improve their program and curriculum for their educational institution.

Nancy Johnson, project manager of the collaborative and the event manager of the conference, said the induction and mentoring programs are designed to improve teaching and to retain new teachers. Johnson said some studies have indicated up to 50 percent of teachers nationwide may end up leaving within the first five years. However, with quality induction and mentoring, including professional development, an increase in retention rates and improved teaching will hopefully result.

“It’s really how schools bring new teachers into the community and support them in becoming better teachers,” Johnson said.

Professional development within an induction program can include teachers who want to further their education, learning new techniques and developments in structuring curriculum, learning technology, and learning students’ learning styles.

Approximately 10 to 12 professors from the University will be attending the conference. Lisa Monda-Amaya, associate professor in special education, is one of them.

Monda-Amaya attended the first conference last year and it had a positive impact. She was able to interact with teachers in the field and feels this program provides a sense of support from teachers statewide.

“The thing I like about the conference is that it’s a working conference,” Monda-Amaya said. “It’s nice to share ideas about what’s happening in terms of mentoring and inducting new teachers.”

Clift said the collaborative received positive feedback from the last conference – an indicator of beneficial effects. More districts are developing induction and mentoring plans, and approximately 200 more individuals will be attending this year’s conference. There has also been an increase in the awareness of importance of induction and mentoring programs.

“I think it’s going to be very exciting,” Monda-Amaya said.