OUR NILES WEST NEW TEACHER MENTOR COMMITTEE:
Britt Czupryna
Committee Chair
Department: Science
Email: briczu@d219.org
Phone EXT: 2773
Carla Green
Committee Member
Department: Counseling
Email: cargre@d219.org
Phone EXT: 2687
Nick Torresso Committee Member
Department: Special Education
Email: nictor@d219.org
Phone EXT: 2903
Karissa Villanueva
Committee Member
Department: Math
Email: karvil@d219.org
Phone EXT: 2760
John Zilewicz
Committee Member
Department: Fine & Applied Arts
Email: johzil@d219.org
Phone EXT: 2632
OUR MISSION:
1) To provide new teachers with a professional partnership (mentor) that offers personal and professional growth, development, and support.
2) To improve teacher retention rates (specifically with regard to our BIPOC teachers) by providing the resources, relationships, and supports new teachers need to thrive in our school community.
3) To foster the professional and personal growth of our mentor teachers by providing opportunities to collaborate with new teachers and other exemplary teachers in our program.
4) To provide mentors with professional development that enables them to better support and advocate for their mentees.
5) To provide new teachers support and guidance with implementing curriculum and best teaching practices in their content area.
MENTOR TEACHER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Attending new teacher orientation with mentee the week before school starts (summer project pay for 20 hours + PD hours provided).
Providing mentees with institutional knowledge and strategies that enable them to effectively and productively navigate our school climate and culture.
Providing your mentee support in the form of classroom resources, lessons, pedagogy, classroom management, and moral support.
Conducting weekly check-ins with your mentee and scheduling time to walk the mentee through important administrative/procedural responsibilities (progress reports, parent-teacher conferences, attendance protocols, student discipline procedures, late start & PD expectations, etc.).
Attending your mentee’s pre and post-observation meetings until they are tenured or they tell you directly that they are comfortable attending these meetings without you present.
Inviting your mentee (and potentially other new hires) into your classroom to observe you teach. All mentees/new hires are expected to observe their mentors teach at least 1 full lesson/class period by the end of their first semester at West.
Consistently communicating any important information, updates, questions, and/or concerns related to your mentee with the New Teacher Mentor Committee and PAR consulting teachers about your mentee.
Helping your mentee build a peer-support network that enables them to feel surrounded by positive professional role models they can go to for whatever professional and personal support they need to thrive in our school.
Encouraging your mentee to become involved in our school community by accompanying them to important school events (building meetings, extra-curricular activities, union meetings, social events, etc.).
NILES WEST NEW TEACHER/STAFF NECESSITIES:
New Teacher Mentor Program Resources, Orientation Materials, & Structural Supports:
New Teacher Orientation Schedule 2023-24
What is PAR? An Overview of the D219 Peer Assistance Review Program
Niles West Student Services Team with Pictures and Contact Info 2023-24
Need Translation Assistance? Use this Family Liason Form to Get Translation Assistance
Online Platforms & Technology Resources
Login Page for D219 Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, EmbraceIEP, etc.)
Canvas (for online course pages, assignments, and grade book)
Infinite Campus (for attendance, rosters, seating charts, student schedules, student background/home information, IEP & 504 accommodations, student assessment data, detentions, progress reports, teacher course recommendations, and chaperone sign-up)
Frontline Education Login Page (for absence requests/management, professional development management, and timesheets used to sign in & out of extra duty jobs)
iVisions Employee Portal (for employee pay and tax information)
Need Tech Help? Book an Appointment with Ms. Kukla
Login to Your ISBE Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) Account
D219 TV: Watch video recordings of student performances, school board meetings, and other important D219 events
School Calendar, Bell Schedules, & Building Operations Info:
Union Contract, District Policies & Procedures, & Additional Employee Resources:
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Resources for Educators:
A Checklist for a Welcoming and Inclusive School Environment | HRC Foundation
Speak Up At School: How To Respond To Everyday Prejudice, Bias, and Stereotypes | Learning for Justice
Speak Up! Guide for Responding to Everyday Bigotry | Learning for Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center
Responding to Hate and Bias at School: A Guide for Educators | Learning for Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center
A Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice | Learning for Justice
Ten Ways to Fight Racism and Hate on School Campuses | Southern Poverty Law Center
Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Resource Guide | Learning for Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center
Building Networks & Addressing Harm: A Community Guide to Online Youth Radicalization | Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL)
A Caregivers Guide to Identifying and Combating Online Radicalization | Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL)
The Interactive Conspiracy Chart with Links to Conspiracy-Crushing Credible Sources
Hate Symbols and Slogans Database + Printable Reference Guide | ADL
America’s Youth is in a Mental Health Crisis: Here’s How You Can Help | Mental Health America
RACE: A Teacher’s Guide | American Anthropological Association
Latino & Hispanic Identities Aren't The Same...Or Racial Groups.
D219 Microaggressions Public Awareness and Education Campaign
District 219 Racial Equity & Anti-Racism in Education Guidance
Racial Equity Tools (RET)
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Around the World | CARE
The History and Impact of Anti-LGBT Slurs - Materials for Educators
Teacher’s Resource Guide: Toward Understanding the Needs and Unique Practices of Muslim Students
Old Hatred, New Paradigms: Combating Antisemitism in the Twenty-First Century
Supporting Students From Immigrant Families | Learning for Justice
Best Practices for Serving English Language Learners and Their Families
The 14 Most Common Anti-Immigration Arguments and Why They’re Wrong
English Learner Toolkit for State and Local Education Agencies
The Really Blatant Lies About Welfare That People Actually Believe
Healing Through Restoration and Transformation | Learning for Justice
Building Community for Connection and Learning | Facing History
Examples of Toxic Positivity Statements + Genuine Empathetic Alternatives