School of Education Hosts First Mentorship Onboarding for W-BEST Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUW’s School of Education Hosts First Mentorship Onboarding for W-BEST Program
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women’s School of Education hosted its first mentorship onboarding event on Friday, September 27, for the W-BEST (The W’s Beginning Educator Support and Training) program, set to relaunch in Fall 2024. Retired education professionals and administrators, all MUW graduates, gathered to mentor first-year teachers and MAT students in the program.
W-BEST fosters new teachers’ success by pairing them with experienced mentors who provide personalized support. The program utilizes the Mississippi Department of Education’s Professional Growth System, including the Professional Growth Mentor Toolkit, Teacher Growth Rubric, and Teacher Professional Growth Cycle, to guide new teachers through their early careers.
“Our goal is to build lasting relationships with new teachers in a Residency V model while also preparing them for the observations and feedback they will receive throughout their careers,” said Penny Mansell, Director of the Center for Education Support.
The onboarding marked a critical step for the program’s official relaunch, emphasizing mentorship’s role in helping teachers navigate classroom challenges and develop vital skills. The goal for the fall cohort will be mentoring the MAT (Master of Arts Teaching, also known as alternate route) students and meeting and building relationships with education interns completing their final semester. Mentors will follow the teacher candidates into their first year in the classroom to provide additional support after they receive their degree.
“We are excited to relaunch W-BEST and grateful to the retired professionals returning to support our new teachers,” said Bob Fuller, Chair of the Department of Education. “Their experience is invaluable in ensuring these first-year educators thrive and have long, successful careers.”
W-BEST aims to reduce teacher attrition rates by equipping new teachers with the necessary resources and support. In the past three years, 86% of The W’s School of Education graduates have returned to Mississippi schools, underscoring its commitment to shaping the future of education in the state.
For more information about the W-BEST program, please contact Shondolyn Richardson.
Center for Education Support
Mississippi University for Women
Education and Human Sciences Building
ces@muw.edu