Induction Program

The Induction Program is a two-year, job-embedded system of mentoring and professional development that provides support based on the candidate’s professional area of focus.

Studies show that teachers are more likely to thrive if they receive mentoring in their first few years of teaching. The induction program helps the candidates develop their teaching practices in a safe environment through intentional reflection and individualized mentorship. Coaching can also serve as a way for teachers with experience teaching outside of California to acclimate to San José Unified and clear their California Preliminary Credential.

The Induction Program is offered to teachers who have a California Preliminary Credential that lists induction as a requirement, including Single Subject, Multiple Subject, or Educational Specialist credentials.

The credential analyst and the Induction Coordinator at San José Unified determine a candidate’s eligibility. Admission to the program occurs in the candidate’s first year of hire, within 30 days of the start of school. The candidate is matched with a mentor according to the credentials held, grade level, and/or subject area.

The mentor provides coaching and support by offering tailored strategies that will help the teacher work with all student populations and instructional practices that are designed to meet students’ needs.

During the Teacher Induction Program, candidates will benefit from a wide array of support including, but not limited to, the following:

• Two-pronged mentorship: site-level coach and credential alike coach
• Peer observations
• Formative assessments
• Individualized coaching cycles
• Differentiated professional development

To complete the Induction Program, candidates must:

• Attend Induction orientation, goal setting, and end of year events each year
• Attend all identified Induction professional development events
• Meet with their coach for individualized support and mentoring, on average one hour per week throughout their Induction Program
• Demonstrate professional growth in or on the Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)
• Attend a variety of professional development trainings offered by San José Unified
• Complete program surveys

The coach assesses the candidate’s progress towards the mastery of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP) by leveraging:

• Self-assessments at beginning and end of each year in induction program,
• Evidence-based reflections that demonstrate a candidate’s growth towards mastery of the CSTP,
• Evidence with specific details and examples of how the candidate’s instructional practice has shifted or developed

The documentation of candidate progress must reflect the learning and professional growth goals indicated in the Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) and exhibit the candidate’s successful completion of the activities outlined in the ILP.