Recruiting and Retaining AP Teaching Talent

1. Recruiting and Retaining AP Teaching Talent • By: Jillian M. Sansivero, MA • AP Language and Literature Teacher • Dallas, TX

2. What brings you to this session today?

3. Recruiting and Cultivating AP Talent

4. First Things First: Determine the qualities that you would like to see an AP teacher.

5. Things that are traditionally valued: 1. Master Teacher-an expert2. Someone with many years of experience3. Someone with connections to an administrator4. A “tough” teacher

6. Well----What is really important???

7. Are tenured teachers the best choice? Not necessarily. 1. With tenure comes comfort. 2. With comfort comes a tendency to not want to change. 3. Why should I focus on results if I am safe in this department? 4. So I lose AP; it is more work anyways.

8. Just because someone has been there forever, it does not mean that they are the most qualified.

9. Younger teachers could help your program more than you think. -They want to impress their administrators. -They come to you with the newest techniques from their degree programs. -They will work for less money.-They have more time to dedicate.

10. Hook them early and you can: 1. Mold them into what you want2. Offer them lots of PD3. Give them incentivesThey will stick with you!

11. Younger or “More Seasoned”Choose Teachers Who:1. Are creative and innovative2. Are not high maintenance; you have other things to do.3. Come from high quality universities4. Have shown you that they can build strong relationships with kids5. Are “tough” and can motivate kids.

12. When we talk AP, aren’t we also talking about a program that depends on results? Passing the test means college credit.

13. Teachers that get results should be rewarded. Your students are the benefactors. Aren’t they the ones who matter most?

14. My Research • I surveyed 50 high school teachers (AP and non- AP) from across the country to find out what would motivate them to take an AP position or to stay in an AP position.

15. You might be shocked....

16. The Research Pool: 50% Regular HS Teachers17% Pre-AP/Honors Teachers33% Current or Former AP teachers

17. All teachers listed the following deterrents: 1. Increased Prep Time: 42%2. Grading Load: 58%3. Lack of Recognition: 16%

18. Regular High School Teachers

19. Question 1: If you were approached by an administrator and asked to teach an AP course in your discipline for next year how likely would be to do it? (If you had a choice to do it or not)50% said “very likely”33% said “likely”17% said “not likely”

20. Question 2: Which of the following incentives would influence you?

21. “Very likely” teachers wanted:1. A stipend: 66% (50% $1,000+)(50% $250-$500)2. Extra planning/conference period:66%3. Mentoring from other AP teachers: 66%4. Paid for PD through the CB: 33%5. Plaque/Certificate/Parking Spot: 16%

22. 100% of “Likely” teachers wanted:1. A stipend($250-$500)2. Extra planning/conference period3. Mentoring from other AP teachers

23. “Not likely” teachers wanted:1. A stipend: 50% ($500-1,000)2. Extra planning/conference period: 100%3. Mentoring from other AP teachers: 100%4. Paid for PD through the CB: 50%5. Plaque/Certificate/Parking Spot: 0%

24. Question 3: How important would it be for you to receive mentoring from a seasoned AP teacher?50% said “Very Important”50% said “Slightly important”

25. Question 4: If you were required to be mentored as a new AP teacher, which would you like to have input on?1. Frequency of meetings: 50%2. Agenda for meetings: 33%3. Teaching style of mentor: 100%4. Personality of mentor: 60%

26. Question 5: To what degree would PD opportunities attract you to the AP program?Very likely: 80%Indifferent: 20%

27. Question 6: What types of PD would you like to participate in?1. Online Workshops by CB: 40%2. In person CB workshops: 80%3. Retreats with other AP teachers: 20%4. Annual AP Summer Conferences: 0%5. AP Training at local colleges: 60%

28. Question 7: How important is camaraderie among AP teachers to you? Very Important: 20%Somewhat Important: 40%Indifferent: 40%Not Important: 0%

29. Pre-AP/Honors Teachers

30. Question 1: If you were approached by an administrator and asked to teach an AP course in your discipline for next year how likely would be to do it? (If you had a choice to do it or not)100% said “likely”

31. Question 2: Which of the following incentives would influence you?

32. Pre-AP/Honors teachers wanted:1. A stipend: 66% (33% $1,000+)(33% $250-$500)2. Extra planning/conference period:66%3. Mentoring from other AP teachers: 33%4. Paid for PD through the CB: 66%5. Plaque/Certificate/Parking Spot: 33%6. Appreciation Breakfasts: 66%7. Selection of Roster: 33%

33. Question 3: How important would it be for you to receive mentoring from a seasoned AP teacher?33% said “Indifferent”66% said “Slightly important”

34. Question 4: If you were required to be mentored as a new AP teacher, which would you like to have input on?1. Frequency of meetings: 66%2. Agenda for meetings: 0%3. Teaching style of mentor: 66%4. Personality of mentor: 66%

35. Question 5: To what degree would PD opportunities attract you to the AP program?Very likely: 33%Indifferent: 66%

36. Question 6: What types of PD would you like to participate in?1. Online Workshops by CB: 33%2. In person CB workshops: 0%3. Retreats with other AP teachers: 33%4. Annual AP Summer Conferences: 66%5. AP Training at local colleges: 66%

37. Question 7: How important is camaraderie among AP teachers to you? Very Important: 0%Somewhat Important: 33%Indifferent: 66%Not Important: 0%

38. Mentoring: The Key to Cultivation

39. A Look at Mentoring:Protocol Questions for Data Collection (Cook Study 2012)

40. 1. Were you provided with a mentor when you began your teaching position? • 78.5% reported receiving some sort of mentoring. • 21% reported receiving no mentoring. 40

41. 2. Did you have any input regarding the selection of your mentor? • 100% of teachers who received mentoring reported having no input regarding the selection of their respective mentor. 41

42. 3. What was the title of your mentor? • 82.4% reported “Teacher” • 4.1% reported “Administrator” • 13.5% reported “Other” 42

43. 4. Was your mentor familiar with your content area? • 84.9% reported “YES” • 15.1% reported “NO” 43

44. 5. Did you have any input with your mentor regarding the agenda of your meetings? • 56.2% reported “YES” • 43.8% reported “NO” 44

45. 6. Did you have any input with your mentor regarding the frequency of your meetings? • 45.2% reported “YES” • 54.8% reported “NO” 45

46. 7. How many times per month did you receive mentoring? • 42.5% reported once monthly • 23.3% reported twice monthly • 6.8% reported three times monthly • 27.4% reported more than three times monthly 46

47. 8. How long did you receive mentoring for? • 60.3% reported only 1 year • 34.2% reported 2 years • 2.7% reported 3 years • 2.7% reported more than 3 years 47

48. 9. Were you satisfied with your mentoring experience? • 64.4% reported “YES.” • 35.6% reported “NO.” 48

49. Satisfied teachers said: • “I could not have made it without her support and encouragement.” • “My mentor was attentive to my needs.” • “I had the support of the entire cluster.” • “She was open to freely give me support that would build my lessons in the classroom.” 49

50. “My mentor was a master teacher in my content area.” • “I was assigned a mentor who visited frequently and offered suggestions.” • “My mentor and I had the same planning period and we taught 2 different sections of the same class.” • “My mentor was approachable and very helpful.” 50