Preparing students for the end-of-year assessments is a massive endeavor for all educators. Teachers have worked hard all year to arm their students with the skills essential for success, and the final hurdle is right around the corner.  Every year during this time, teachers seek strategies to be the cornerstone of well-balanced review sessions. However, not just any strategies will suffice; teachers want the “biggest bang for their buck.” High-leverage strategies are vital in promoting recall, reinforcing comprehension, and aiding students in making meaningful connections between concep ..read more

Jodi Hebert is an Instructional Coach for the New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP) who facilitates learning by building trusting relationships and meeting people where they are. Jodi believes learning spaces should be safe, vibrant, joyful, and busy, that students don’t get nearly enough credit for what they are capable of, and in looking beyond the things our schools traditionally measure and stretching the school box so everyone can fit and feel valued. Jodi has worked in public schools for 22 years. She taught pre-kindergarten, first, second, fourth, and fifth grades and served as a school ..read more

In addition to her role as Regional Director for North Carolina New Teacher Support Program, Melissa Faetz is the Elementary Education program coordinator and faculty member in the College of Education and Allied Professions at Western Carolina University.  She previously taught first and third grade in Macon County for 12 years.  She was the 2014 North Carolina Region 8 Teacher of the Year and a 2015 NC Hope Street Group Teacher Voice Fellow.  She is a two-time graduate of Western Carolina University and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the Unive ..read more

Amy Richardson is a regional director who works to ensure teacher and stakeholder efficacy through listening and learning. Amy believes that there is a significant and powerful impact on the lives and livelihood of teachers and students through instructional coaching. Amy has supported a variety of district roles throughout her career and looks forward to supporting the NTSP coaches as they collaborate to support an entire region of new and beginning teachers. She is also the director of UNC Chapel Hill’s lab school, Carolina Community Academy and appreciates that this unique position keeps he ..read more

Assistant Dean for Professional Education and Accreditation Click For Additional Information The post Erin Horne appeared first on NC New Teacher Support Program ..read more

Katie King is an Instructional Coach for the New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP)  who supports beginning teachers through individualized coaching that fosters growth, knowledge, and success within their classrooms. Katie believes that coaching partnerships with teachers should be built on a foundation of trust, respect, and curiosity so that all will feel supported as they grow in their profession. She believes that when teachers have the support they need in their classrooms, students and teachers will thrive!  Katie has partnered with dozens of teachers throughout her career, sup ..read more

Katie Matthews is an Instructional Coach for the New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP) who improves teachers’ instructional practices to enhance student learning and increase teacher efficacy. Katie believes cultivating authentic relationships focused on collaboration, unwavering support, and shared experiences, positively impacts student achievement and teacher retention.  Katie utilizes her 26-year classroom experience to create practical professional development series that offer a hands-on approach to be utilized in the classroom immediately.  Currently, she is working towards bu ..read more

Julie Little serves as an Instructional Coach for the New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP), standing by the side of novice teachers and district partners. Her role involves furnishing valuable support and expertise in MTSS, differentiation strategies, catering to diverse learners, and enhancing classroom engagement. Rooted in her belief that education and coaching possess the profound ability to unleash human potential and facilitate positive transformation, Julie brings a wealth of experience to her position. Over her extensive 24-year career in education, Julie has been a pillar of support ..read more

To focus our efforts on being an efficient planner, preparing effective lesson plans provide a framework and process for engaging and challenging all students while allowing flexibility to accommodate their unique needs.  “Teachers are expected to assimilate and integrate dozens of individually worthy, yet disparate ideas…These may be fine ideas but without some scheme for putting them together in a meaningful way, they may wind up resembling a complicated (if not expensive) pile of junk” (Goodwin, 2013, p. xvii).  Consensus among educators is that well-thought-out lesson plans are a ..read more

As you begin the new school year, you are likely setting up your classroom, preparing lessons and attending more meetings than you can count! You are also meeting coaches and building support staff, that will help guide your teaching this school year. This blog will help you identify the many coaching roles within a school and ways that you can engage with your coaches, to maximize your support! North Carolina New Teacher Support Program: Our program provides new teachers with support during their first three years in the classroom We provide induction support that is targeted to teacher nee ..read more