RETENTION: Implementing Successful

SIG/SPDG Projects

Cyndi Boezio, Ph.D.Colorado Department of EducationSIG Regional Meeting—AlbuquerqueOctober 29, 2007

Discussion Questions• Management: How do you manage

a particular initiative?

• Content Implementation: How do you implement from initial pilot sites to scaling-up?

• Evaluation: How are you going to evaluate impact?

• Sustainability: How do you sustain it?

Retention Efforts in Colorado

• Grow-Your-Own Projects −Full tuition and support for

paraeducators−Tuition stipends to district staff to

become SLPs

• Incentive Programs−Incentive programs for vision and

hearing providers−Incentive programs at facilities

(residential, day treatment…)

• Rural Mentor Project

A Colorado SIG Project

Funded by OSEP

The MENTOR Project• Training for mentors—5 days

• Mentor stipend—$500 or $250

• Expert consultant for mentor support

• Substitute reimbursement—classroom observations and meetings with protégé

• Training for protégés—2 days

#1. Managing a Project

Identification of Sites −Retention Rate Data: Pilot in

3 highest need regions (3 of 8 regions)

−Marketing: Personal Face-to-Face Invite, Use Project Data & Personal Testimonies

Managing a Project

Staffing/Resource Allocations−Recommendation for

trainer/consultant−Change when necessary:

Relationships v. Skills

• Relationship Building & Buy-In−Superintendents−Principals

#2. Implementation:Pilots

• Start Small: Learn from Mistakes−Planning−Rural issues (mentor/protégé match,

face-to-face meetings…)−Number of protégés −Relationship v. Skills−SPED directors working w/principals

• Involve Parents−PEAK Parent Center (PTI)

Scaling-Up

• Must be Dramatically Easier−Selling to superintendents and

principals (time, cost, and achievement)

Scaling-Up & Systemic Factors

• Build the Infrastructure First!−Coaching: Teacher leaders in 3

regions −Trainers: Trainers trained to use the

standard curriculum*−Evaluation: Use data for decision

making

• Think Regionally!

#3. Evaluation

• Continuous Feedback Loop−Mentors said teach more skills−Protégés said liked networking−Directors said standards-based

IEPs

Evaluation of Impact: Retention Projects

• Increased Retention Rates

• Comparison with None Project Novice Teachers−1 BOCES had 100% retention

w/the project and less than 50% w/out

The MENTOR Project Retention Rates

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

SPED Unit

% R

etai

ned

05-06 06-07

Evaluation of Impact:Participants’ Views

• Value of Project− Protégés

• 71% improved teaching skills• 86% impacted their professional growth

− Mentors• 100% positive professional experience

− Special Education Directors• “re-energized my veteran teachers”• “all parties raved about the MENTOR

Project”

#4. Sustainability

• Implementation with Fidelity−Coverage—Implement all

components−Dosage—Ensure amount of time &

intensity−Need Coaching

• 3 regional teacher leaders

Sustainability

• Systems in Place−Coaching−Training−Evaluation Loop

• Material Development−Standard curriculum−Mentor modules

• Support from Leadership

Contact Colorado• Cyndi Boezio, SIG Director

−303-866-6853 (call first)

• Adena Miller, Mentor Coordinator−303-866-6698−Miller_a@cde.state.co.us

Discussion Questions1. Management: How do you

manage a particular initiative?

2. Content Implementation: How do you implement from initial pilot sites to scaling-up?

3. Evaluation: How are you going to evaluate impact?

4. Sustainability: How do you sustain it?