Beginning Teacher Institute

About the Beginning Teacher Institute

The Beginning Teacher Institute (BTI) has been developed to address the specific needs of independent school teachers at the start of their careers. The program, which is comprised of four classroom sessions plus a classroom observation day, will examine a range of topics essential to effective teaching including instructional techniques, classroom management skills and parent communications. It will familiarize participants with the unique characteristics of independent schools and encourage them to consider how their roles as teachers are shaped by their communities. In addition, by providing participants the opportunity to meet and build relationships with both experienced and new teachers from other AISGW member schools, the BTI will function as a professional network which participants can call on for support and guidance.

Benefits to the School

School communities expect and require new teachers to be highly effective, yet there is so much for new teachers to learn and absorb that they may become overwhelmed. By introducing essential teaching topics at a manageable pace and in the context of a collegial and encouraging environment, participants will begin to build the foundation for a long and successful career in independent schools. The BTI is designed to supplement the support and guidance provided by the beginning teacher’s own school. In order to maximize the benefits of the BTI, the sending school is asked to provide contact information for the beginning teacher’s supervisor as well as contact information for an experienced teacher who will serve as the beginning teacher’s mentor. Mentors and supervisors will be invited to attend a portion of the first BTI session. In addition, they will be sent updates throughout the year which will include a summary of the topics covered.

Curriculum

The BTI will emphasize critical elements of highly effective teaching including:
Instructional techniques	Classroom management
Parent communications	The teacher-student relationship
Discipline	Professionalism
Equity and inclusion	Educational philosophy
Differentiated learning styles	Homework and testing
Classroom observation	Responsibilities outside of the classroom
Early childhood education	Lower School
Middle School	Upper School
Governance	Independent schools’ mission & culture

Methodology

The BTI will be lead by Armistead Webster, Lower School Head at Norwood School, and the members of the BTI Steering Committee. Using an active and experiential approach, they will address many of the challenges faced by beginning teachers through discussion, role playing and readings. All lessons will be presented with humor and the enduring commitment of experienced professionals. Supplemental resources and a listserv for participants will be provided.

Schedule

2007-2008 Classroom sessions:

Thursday, September 20, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (inc. breakfast and lunch)
Thursday, December 6, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (inc. dinner)
Thursday, January 24, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (inc. breakfast and lunch)
Tuesday, April 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Location TBD (inc. breakfast and lunch)

All classroom sessions will be held at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda.

Registration

Registration for the Beginning Teacher Institute will open on Monday, August 13, 2007. Class size is limited and registrants will be admitted on a first come first serve basis. If you have questions about this program, or would like more information, please send an email to info@aisgw.org or call 202-625-9223.

Classroom observation day

In October, participants will spend a morning at an AISGW school observing an experienced teacher in the classroom. Afterwards they will join a member of the BTI Steering Committee for lunch and discussion. Participants are required to attend all four sessions and the classroom observation day.

Leadership

Armistead Webster, Institute Leader:

Armistead Webster has been the principal of the Lower School at Norwood School in Bethesda, Maryland since 1999. He was an elementary school principal in Denver Public Schools for five years and in Jefferson County Public Schools, a suburb of Denver, for five years. Armistead began his teaching career at St. Luke’s School in the South Bronx and has taught in public and independent schools during his career. He has an M.A. in Deafness Education and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Supervision, and Curriculum. Armistead has been an instructor in the Institute for Equity, Race, and Education at the Black Student Fund for the past four years, and this is his second year to serve as the Institute’s leader.