Our New-to-CPS Teacher Orientation is designed to foster connections among educators and help you gain a deeper understanding of our students, district, and community. You will also learn more about the professional expectations for CPS teachers, and the structures and resources we have in place to support you. Participation in the three-day orientation is a requirement of all new and incoming teachers. To view the 2024-2025 New-to-CPS Orientaiton agenda and resources, please click here.

Mentoring is an integral part of a beginning teacher's professional learning and growth during their first year of practice. It is also one of the requirements for Teachers who eventually wish to attain professional licensure in Massachusetts. Mentor matches are typically made within the first two weeks of school. 

Mentors and beginning Teachers are expected to meet once a week, on average, to provide each beginning teacher with approximately 40-50 hours of coaching, feedback, planning, and professional support over the course of the school year. Additionally, Mentors are expected to schedule regular observation visits to their Mentees’ classrooms, and help facilitate opportunities for their Mentees to observe the practice of other experienced teachers.

Newly-hired teachers may request, but are not guaranteed, being matched with a qualified mentor of similar identity and background.

New-to-CPS Seminars are structured to create time and space for educators to share successes, challenges, dilemmas, and artifacts of practice. Seminars will also systematically focus on key areas of practice that align with the evaluation system and the CPS District Plan. New to CPS Seminars will take place in person on the dates indicated on this calendar. Please note that while each session will be geared towards a particular focus group by role and/or grade level, you are welcome to attend any one of the three monthly offerings, for a total of five seminar meetings over the course of the school year. Access monthly agendas and additional resources on the Induction Program website (CPS login required).

Individual 1:1 coaching meetings between CPS induction program staff and participants will be scheduled to take place at each school two times per year (once in December and once in April). The purpose of these non-evaluative meetings is to check in, celebrate your successes, and help troubleshoot any challenges or dilemmas you are working through. Meetings can be held in your classroom/learning space, in another onsite location in your school (such as the library or conference room), or on Google Meet.

Each CPS induction program participant will be required to make at least two observations of veteran teachers, then submit a short reflection to capture takeaways. Observations may include your mentor teacher, another veteran teacher in your building, or a role-alike teacher in another building. Induction program staff can assist in identifying suitable classrooms in which to observe.

Over the course of the school year, CPS induction program participants will submit approximately eight short reflection logs, with topics that are closely aligned with other program activities.