North Putnam teachers to mentor their colleagues

Monday, December 13, 2021

ROACHDALE — With the goal of fostering best practices and inspiration among its newer teachers, more seasoned ones will get to pair with them soon at North Putnam.

As such, the North Putnam School Board approved a new job description for “mentor” teachers as part of its agenda last Thursday evening.

The idea is for those more experienced teachers to provide feedback to the newer teachers and coach them on best practices and ideas for lesson planning and interacting with students. New teachers would also be able to observe their mentors.

Each mentor teacher would have one mentee. Both would also be similar grade-wise and not cross drastically (i.e., pairing a kindergarten teacher with a high school mentor).

To a query from board member Ron Spencer, Allee suggested that mentors would be unofficially evaluated in terms of meeting with their mentees and giving feedback. They would be expected to meet at least once per nine weeks.

In bringing the job description to the board, Superintendent Nicole Allee said being a mentor would be a stipended position and that compensation would come out of a Title II grant.

In other business:

• The board approved stipends to administrators and counselors. They will be paid the same as teachers rated Highly Effective or Effective for teacher appreciation grant (TAG) money at $590.69 and $450.18, respectively. Though they are certified, they are excluded from TAG.

• The board approved the corporation’s calendar for the 2022-23 school year. Allee noted that e-learning could be utilized instead of taking snow days, except in the case of extended closures. As such, face-to-face days could be added at the end of the year.

• The board approved a description guide for courses at North Putnam High School for the 2022-23 school year. Principal Jason Chew noted that the guide would be much different from this year’s in terms of updating some descriptions and titles.

• The board approved an update to policy on enrollment, in that proof of Indiana residency from parents will be required. The policy will allow identification in different ways including addresses and mortgage statements.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Denise Davies - after-school remediation teacher (grades K-2); Brittney Ault - after-school remediation teacher (grades 3-5); Shannon Kinkead - after-school remediation substitute; Jeanine Peterson - remediation substitute (after-school); Gary Booker - Roachdale Elementary custodian (second shift); Dorothy Dowell - Title I instructional assistant; Ricki Campbell - agriscience teacher (covering leave); Barry Morrison - sixth-grade social studies teacher (covering leave); Kerry Roussey - softball head coach (spring 2021-22); Bronwyn Spencer, Heather Clingan, Chris Brewer and Jenny Heron - softball assistant coaches (spring 2021-22); Adam Logan - co-ed swimming and diving assistant coach; and Jon Day - ninth-grade boys’ basketball head coach;

• ECA: Holly Richardson - mentor teacher for Andrea Guinn;

• Leaves: Ryan Burress - NPHS teacher (administrative leave, Nov. 17 through Nov. 22); Heather Clingan - NPMS/NPHS agriscience teacher (FMLA, Dec. 6 through about Feb. 11); and Jacob Bender - NPMS social studies teacher (FMLA, Dec. 6 through about Jan. 18);

• Resignations: Chris Murray - ninth-grade basketball head coach (effective Nov. 15); Dana Young - NPMS instructional assistant (effective Dec. 17); and Riachel Mosteller - NPHS special education teacher (effective Dec. 21);

• Termination: Ryan Burress - NPHS boys’ and girls’ assistant swim coach (effective Nov. 22).

Board members Amber Greene and Eric Oliver were absent. Meanwhile, Allee and the rest of the board were joined by Corporation Treasurer Tanya Pearson, Director of Operations Terry Tippin, Corporation Attorney Darren Chadd and Administrative Assistant April Lambermont.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. in the large group instruction room at North Putnam High School.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: