New Teacher Induction - Program News

November 7, 2023

New Teacher Induction

Providing new teachers with the resources they need to succeed

Are You Busy?!

A common phrase with disastrous effect was, “I’ll have to pass, there is much to do!” This paraphrase from Jesus’ wedding feast parable in Matthew 22 might be surprising. It might even hit close to home during various phases of life.

Yet, one of the things that is striking goes beyond the reaction of the guests. It is the king’s loving patience to fill the wedding hall for his Son.

⁸Then [the King] said to his servants, “The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ ¹⁰And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.”

What comforting grace, that attending the wedding feast is dependent on the King, instead of on the status of those invited. All are invited, good and bad. And who are the servants who carried the gracious invitation?

One of the servants is you. You know the King’s commitment and loving welcome. He has given you a ministry to carry that life-giving message of the Son’s wedding feast. What joy. Here we go!

Meet and Greet

New Teacher Induction has three new lead mentors this year, who serve with the other lead mentors to facilitate the induction process for new teachers within their WELS districts.

Bert Bieber (DMLC ’85), Dakota-Montana District Lead Mentor. Bert teaches at St. Paul-Rapid City SD.
Joanna Smith (MLC ’09, MS Ed ’16), Nebraska District Lead Mentor. Joanna is the administrator at Trinity-Hoskins NE.
Kurt Gosdeck (DMLC ’93, MS Ed ’20), Northern Wisconsin District Lead Mentor. Kurt is the vice-principal and technology director at St. Mark-Green Bay WI.
Annie Gumm (MLC ’03, MS Ed ’21), Western Wisconsin District Lead Mentor. Annie teaches at St. Mark-Watertown WI.

The district lead mentors are the go-to people with district-related induction questions and comments. Who to Contact Chart

SIBME

NTI is using the SIBME platform to augment two observations with video, including those done in person. Mentors and new teachers all have accounts. Support is provided through the platform and district lead mentors.

Triad Meetings

By November, the beginning teacher’s triad (administrator, mentor, and teacher) meets to discuss or set ministry and teacher goals.

Those who have one-year calls have an additional schedule:

On February 1, the MLC Field Experience Office will send out forms:

One-year teachers: Temporarily Assigned Candidate Update Form
Administrators: Temporary Teacher Evaluation Form

In February, the triad meets to assess the teacher’s growth toward the identified goals, reports back to the Field Experience Office, and sets the end-of-year plans.