Support for Novice Teachers in Arkansas Charter Schools: Program Plan and Request Form Now Available
Novice Teacher Mentoring with APSRC
APSRC is proud to support Arkansas charter schools in developing strong, confident early-career educators. Our novice teacher mentoring program is designed to help new teachers grow into effective leaders who enjoy and remain in the profession. Led by Cheryl Blue, APSRC Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, this program provides structured, year-by-year support tailored to the needs of novice teachers in charter schools.
This work aligns with the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s vision of transforming Arkansas into a national leader in student-focused education. By supporting novice teachers, we strengthen the foundation of student learning and promote lasting teacher success.
This blog post includes two important resources for charter school leaders and staff. First, a detailed program plan that can be used to guide support efforts within your school. Second, a form to request APSRC’s mentoring support for the next school year.
What is a Novice Teacher?
The Arkansas Department of Education defines a novice teacher as a classroom teacher with fewer than three years of public school teaching experience. This includes individuals teaching under a provisional license.
Novice teachers face a unique set of challenges in their first few years. APSRC’s mentoring framework helps guide them through these early stages by focusing support over a three-year period:
Year 1 - Inspire and Motivate
Year 2 - Engage and Guide
Year 3 - Coach and Reflect
According to the ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RULES GOVERNING EDUCATOR SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT, a “Novice teacher” means a teacher who has completed less than three (3) school years of public school classroom teaching experience. 4.18.1 “Novice teacher” includes a teacher of record holding a provisional license.
Click here to learn more about APSRC’s Novice Teacher Support.
Use the Program Plan to Guide Local Support
The Novice Teacher Program Plan outlines the structure of the three-year model. It includes recommended focus areas, strategies for mentor engagement, and tools to help charter schools build or strengthen in-house support systems.
Request APSRC Support for the Upcoming School Year
If your school would like to be added to the novice teacher support list for the upcoming school year, please complete the request form below.
Questions?
If you have questions about program eligibility, implementation, or how to get started, contact Cheryl Blue. We look forward to helping your school support the growth and success of novice teachers across Arkansas.
Cheryl Blue
APSRC Curriculum & Instruction Specialist
Email: cblue@apsrc.net
