FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
January 20, 2006
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
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District Professional Development Contacts
School Principals and Assistant Principals
FROM:
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Kathryn S. Hebda, Chief
Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development and Retention
SUBJECT:
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TELEMENTORING PROGRAM
The Florida Department of Education is pleased to inform you that the Bureau of Educator
Recruitment, Development and Retention offers a telementoring service to new Florida teachers
through http://www.teachinFlorida.com. This program supports the Department’s efforts to
increase the supply of highly effective teachers. Telementoring is an electronic mentoring
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This is a free service that teachers at all grade levels can use to get assistance from experienced
teachers. Telementors select teachers based on their professional needs, area of certification and
grade level. Teachers are contacted via phone or email and a contact schedule is created based on
the needs of the teacher.
Research suggests that a mentor can be an integral part of a positive beginning to a career in
education. Research also shows that what beginning teachers need more than anything else is
support and guidance as they develop their professional skills and knowledge.
KATHRYN S. HEBDA, CHIEF
BUREAU OF EDUCATOR RECRUITMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 124 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0435
Telementoring Program
January 20, 2006
Page 2
The telementoring program is a wonderful opportunity to provide new teachers with additional
support, guidance and feedback during their early years of teaching. Through telementoring, it is
expected that beginning teachers will have an opportunity to discover individual pathways to
professional development. We currently have over two hundred mentors available on our website
to provide telementoring services to beginning Florida teachers. Therefore, we highly
recommend your district’s participation in this opportunity.
If your district is interested in this service, please contact Dr.Yakup Bilgili, by phone at (850)
245-0549, or via email at yakup.bilgili@fldoe.org.
