Overview

Learning to teach is a developmental process that begins in preservice and continues throughout a teacher’s profession. The TEAM program pairs every new classroom teacher with a trained mentor who provides support to the beginning teacher through the first years in the classroom.

The mission of the TEAM Program
To promote excellence, equity and high achievement for Connecticut students by engaging teachers in purposeful exploration of professional practice through guided support and personal reflection.
What is the TEAM Program
The TEAM Program is a process of continuous professional growth designed around five professional growth modules aligned to the Common Core of Teaching (CCT):
  1. Classroom environment
  2. Planning
  3. Instruction
  4. Assessment
  5. Professional responsibility
Depending on the beginning teacher’s area of certification (see appendix B of the TEAM program manual for details) and teaching assignment, they are required to complete up to five modules.
The Cycle of Continuous Professional Growth

Mentors and beginning teachers engage in a cycle of professional growth; together they reflect on practice, identify an area of need/growth, engage in professional learning, apply the new learning, and reflect on the impact on the teacher’s practice and student outcomes.

Each module is focused within the context of the teacher’s own students, subject, grade level, curriculum requirements and school and district goals. Teachers demonstrate completion of each module through either a reflection paper or project, depending on their district’s plan.

Module 5 - Professional Responsibilities is different from the other four modules, which are primarily classroom centered. To fulfill Module 5 requirements, teachers must engage in district-facilitated conversations that focus on ethical and professional dilemmas and their professional responsibility to students, the larger school/district educational community and to families.

Eligibility for Provisional Certification

Successful completion of the TEAM Program is required for eligibility to advance from an Initial Educator Certificate to a Provisional Educator Certificate.

Eligibility for Provisional Certification

Successful completion of the TEAM Program is required for eligibility to advance from an Initial Educator Certificate to a Provisional Educator Certificate.