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New Teacher Induction Program

Santa Clara Unified School District values and supports new teachers while providing a strong foundation for their success. As a result of this, we have an excellent reputation for retaining newcomers to the District. All newly hired teachers take part in an orientation before the school year begins and new hires with preliminary credentials enroll in the Induction Program for two years to obtain their clear credential.

Teachers in the Induction Program are assigned a veteran teacher mentor who works one-on-one with them to apply concepts acquired during teacher training at the universities and during the induction program.

Mentors offer help in the following areas:

Training occurs to support the teachers’ goals and to incorporate the latest research and District guidelines in establishing classrooms designed to meet the needs of all students, including those who are English learners or possess other special needs. Specific strategies for differentiation, management, and cooperative learning are modeled, and support is provided to apply these in the classroom.

Release time is provided for new teachers to observe veteran teachers in the classroom environment. Then, the program offers guidance on how to implement these newly learned strategies.

At the core of the Induction Program is collaboration. During training, teachers are given time to work together and learn to incorporate collaboration into their teaching practices.

The program provides multiple opportunities at regular intervals for teachers to assess the skills required to meet these standards. Upon completion of all program requirements, teachers are recommended for a clear teaching credential. For a minimal fee, teachers going through induction can receive university credit for doing this work.

For more information about Santa Clara Unified's Induction Program, please contact Omar Munir or Karen Rock.

  • Assistance in planning, reflecting, problem-solving, and understanding the culture of the class, school, district, and community.
  • Regular collaboration with the teacher to reflect upon their growth in the California Standards for the Teaching Professions (CSTPs) and set specific growth goals as measured on the Continuum of Teaching Practice and documented on the Individualized Learning Plan.