Making Connections Monday: Did you know the BISD HR Department is offering an e-mentoring program for new teachers?!

Over 45 teachers joined the Brenham ISD team this school year and nearly 30 of those are brand new to the profession. Christie Olivarez, Brenham ISD Director of Human Resources, is committed to supporting new staff members to ensure their success in BISD. One of the ways she is doing this is by taking advantage of an electronic mentoring system offered through a partnership with Texas A&M University, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Texas Education Agency. PACT, Performance-Based Academic Coaching Teams, was created in 2002 for Texas A&M graduates entering the teaching profession. Since then, with the help of additional funding from TEA, the program has expanded and is now available to teachers and administrators across the United States.

Christie Olivarez recognizes that many teachers are entering the education profession by way of alternative certification programs. These teachers may not have had the benefit of hands-on pre-service teaching experiences and could greatly benefit from an e-mentor. In addition, some generalist teacher certification programs do not offer the depth of curriculum training required for success in content-specific classrooms. PACT offers best practices, demonstration videos and lesson plans, in addition to electronic mentors available to teachers seven days a week. Christie hopes this program will not only elevate the knowledge level of Brenham ISD teachers, but also give them a concentrated focus for content-specific teaching assignments. There is no doubt that participation in the PACT program will help attract and retain quality staff members, a district goal for Brenham ISD.

To learn more about the PACT program, visit pact.tarleton.edu/pact/. If you are a Brenham ISD teacher who is interested in participating in the PACT program, contact the BISD Human Resources Department at 979-277-3706.

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