New Members

New Member Resources—Off Site

• New Member Resources―NYSUT

• What You Need To Know About Certification―NYSUT

• Certification―New York State Education Department

• Just For Techers―AFT

• t-source: Your Resource For Professional Growth―AFT

• Tips and Ideas for New Teachers

• Learning Network- New Teacher

• A New Teacher's Survival Guide

• Teacher's First- New Teacher Resources

• What to Expect Your First Year of Teaching

• Homepage for New (And Not So New) Math Teachers

• New Teacher Online Resources

• Curriculum Mapping

• Works4me: Practical Classroom Tips from Teachers Like You―NEA

New Member Resources—Off Site

• APPR Guide (Annual Professional Performance Review)

• APPR Presentation (Observations and Madeline Hunter Strategies)

• New Member Booklet―VCTA

• New Tenure Determination Law―Use of Peer Review (NYSUT Information Bulletin)

• Professional Development Requirement for Certification (NYSUT Information Bulletin)

• Teacher Certification in New York State (NYSUT Information Bulletin)

• Teacher Certification Titles (NYSUT Information Bulletin)

• Which Certification Requirements Affect You (NYSUT Information Bulletin)

• VCTA Links Index (An index on this site covering every academic area and more)

• Welcome to the VCTA:  PowerPoint to view highlights of VCTA activities throughout the years.

Mentoring & Induction for New Members (Contract Language)

Article XIV, Section B.     Viking Induction Program and Viking Mentoring Program: Certain teachers and other unit members shall, as a condition of their employment, be required to participate in the District's Viking Induction Program ("VIP") and Viking Mentoring Program ("VMP"). VIP and VMP are initiatives designed for newly hired unit members.

1. VIP: All unit members new to the district, except Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and Physical Therapy Assistants, shall attend the VIP before the start of their 1st and 2nd school years unless they receive express written permission from the Superintendent or his/her designee to postpone their attendance (e.g., date of hire). Attending VIP sessions shall be a condition of employment for all new unit members. First year members shall attend a three-day session; second year members shall attend a two-day session

2. VMP: VMP sessions, consisting of approximately ten (10) three (3) hour after school workshop sessions (one per month) each year or the equivalent of thirty (30) contact hours, will be required of all unit members to the District for at least one year. Exception: Unit members exempt from tenure criteria (e.g. nurses) shall only attend the Viking Induction Program.

   1. In the second year, teachers will have fifteen (15) hours of contact time and a fifteen (15) hour project with support from a mentor.

   2. If the teacher requires a third or fourth year, the mentor will arrange thirty (30) contact hours (or as stipulated by a TIP) in an individualized plan.

   3. Teachers who receive an unsatisfactory formative or summative evaluation in any of their probationary years may be required to participate in a subsequent year of mentoring at the District’s request. The duration of each teacher's participation shall be determined and mutually agreed upon by the District and Association prior to the end of each participation year. However, this mandatory participation shall not extend beyond four years.

3. VIP/VMP Compensation: Credit advancement on the salary schedule and other forms of compensation will not be provided to unit members for participation within the VIP and VMP programs except as noted here: Teachers who must complete SED's 175 hour professional development requirement will be able to apply these hours to that mandate. Graduate courses utilized within the VMP, however, will also receive credit on the salary schedule as per Article XIX, Section K.

4. VIP/VMP Curriculum and Personnel: VIP and VMP curriculum will be developed by and mutually agreed upon by the District and the Association. VIP/VMP instructors may consist of Valley Central teachers and staff, outside consultants, administrators, and representatives of NYSUT. Both the District and Association must mutually select VIP/VMP instructors. Mentors will be selected in consultation with the Association President or his/her designee.

Robin Scott
K-5, Yr. 1.

Melissa Verlin
6-12, Yr. 1

Sandy Carroll,
Yr. 2-3

Rich Steger
District Coordinator

Patti Lunden
District Coordinator