MENTORS CONSULTING & TRAINING LAUNCHES SUMMER 'MENTORING EDUCATORS' PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS

Inaugural Training Sessions Prepare Educators for Expanding Digital World

PITTSBURGH, MAY 5, 2003 - In conjunction with Teacher Appreciation Week, Mentors Consulting & Training, a Pittsburgh-based professional development firm, announces the launch of its annual 'Mentoring Educators' program in recognition of a critical need among educators for more intensive training in how to effectively integrate new technology resources into daily classroom curriculum. The inaugural program will run concurrently at various Pittsburgh area sites the weeks of July 21-25, July 28-Aug. 1 and Aug. 4-8, in state-of-the art school district computer facilities located at local host school districts.

Current host school districts include Avonworth and Moon Area, and schools from Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Butler Counties will be participating. ãWe continue to recruit host and participating school districts that will distribute promotional materials and e-mails to encourage their teachers to participate in the 'Mentoring Educators' program,ä said Julia Fishbaine, relationship manager for Mentors.

The 'Mentoring Educators' program features Mentors' Curriculum Accountable Teacher Training (CAT2¨) program, whereby participants will receive executive-quality, technology-oriented training specifically focused on curriculum integration - taught by teachers, for teachers. The program, designed in partnership with and delivered by teachers from local school districts, includes a cafeteria plan of classes from which participants may choose, according to their individual needs. Topics such as Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FrontPage, and Internet Explorer will be taught at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.

ãWe developed the CAT2 program in collaboration with technology and curriculum experts from several local school districts. Their knowledge regarding the unique needs of our school teachers, coupled with Mentors' professional staff development expertise, proved to be an excellent approach to developing this customized program,ä said Kris Kirk, president of Mentors. ãWe are now recruiting teachers who have completed the CAT2 program to participate in our trainer preparation program so they can deliver the CAT2 sessions this summer. Our approach satisfies the critical need for school districts to build depth in their technology support staff and to better deliver future in-house training initiatives. Many studies show that our children benefit greatly from technology-oriented teachers. Unfortunately many of our schools invest on average only 3 percent of their technology budget on professional training, compared to other organizations' investments of approximately 20 percent.ä

Moon Area School District has been involved since CAT2 was originally conceived. According to Kim Jones Prevost, Technology Coordinator, ãIt is very exciting to provide teachers with the staff development and support they deserve to enhance what they do best with technology. I have always been impressed with teachers' creativity in using technology as a tool to enhance the instruction and learning process. I'm honored that the Moon Area School District has the opportunity to take a leadership role in this endeavor.ä

Teachers participating in Mentor's inaugural program will obtain concise and user-friendly course materials; extensive hands-on opportunities where teachers can apply the skills that they have acquired; and the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas with their peers.

ãWe fully support the Mentoring Educators program because a majority of our teachers have already participated in the CAT2 program,ä said Dr. James DeTrude, superintendent of Avonworth School District. ãThe teachers demonstrate a marked improvement in the use of technology and we have witnessed an increase in student interest in learning when computers are blended with traditional teaching methods. We are excited to be part of this pioneering public/private partnership approach to assist Avonworth and other schools districts with technology solutions.ä

The idea for Mentors' CAT2 program originated in 1997 when Mentors experts noticed the disparity in the way schools approach technology initiatives compared to how other organizations approach technology initiatives. Today, many national studies support the need for Mentors' approach.

Statistics also support the fact that professional staff development better prepares teachers and, in turn, positively impacts student achievement. Professional training of teachers in curriculum integration was a key factor in West Virginia moving from 37th in the nation in student achievement to 17th over the course of its BS/CE technology integration project. In a review of the impact of professional staff development on student achievement in mathematics, the National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that students whose teachers received professional development on technology integration showed gains in math scores up to 13 weeks above grade level. Similarly, in a review of more than 300 studies of the use of technology in the classroom, the Software & Information Industry Association found that students whose teachers received more than 10 hours of training outperformed those students whose teachers received five or fewer hours.

While the inaugural 'Mentoring Educators' program focuses on CAT2, future programs will include classroom management topics relating to technology use, PDA training, leadership training, digital camera training, dealing with difficult parents, student behavioral health issues, and diversity training. About Mentors Consulting & Training
Founded in 1994 and headquartered on Pittsburgh's North Shore, Mentors Consulting & Training is a full-service woman-owned training organization. The company's CATÓ program is designed to provide teachers with instruction in computer technology so that they are better prepared to help students succeed in our ever-expanding digital economy. The company also offers more than 155 general training sessions and several customized programs that target specific professional user groups including teachers, accountants, physicians, professional union members, and executives. For more information, contact Mentors Consulting & Training (412) 322-1907.



 





Contact:
Pam Selker Rak
President, CommuniTech
Phone: (412) 221-4550
Email:
pam.rak@mktgcommunications.com
 




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