Charles County Public Schools
Teacher Colleague Program
In 2004, Mr. James Richmond, Superintendent of Schools, created an office of Teacher Services as part of the Human Resources Department of the Charles County Public School System. The function of this department was to explore and develop a teacher retention program for the school system. After two years of research and several system-wide efforts to provide support, the focus for retention efforts became school-based. The elementary and middle schools had instructional Leadership Teams that had the direction to assist in supporting teachers new to their buildings. The high schools with the largest numbers of new staff, however, had no such resource team. A proposal was set forth to the high school principals to establish a Teacher Colleague Program at each high school that would provide additional support for certificated staff new to Charles County Public Schools. This concept was unanimously accepted by the principals and supported by Mr. Richmond and the Board of Education. A pilot program was established in the 2006-2007 school year, and has been modified and renewed each school year based on principal ongoing support.
The Teacher Colleague Program offers three levels of school-based support:
- the school principal who facilitates the selection process for Teacher Colleagues and directs the Emeritus Colleague;
- the Emeritus Colleague, a retired master teacher who applies and is selected by a committee, then collaborates with the principal to coordinate the work of school-based Teacher Colleagues; and
- the Teacher Colleague, an experienced teacher at the school level, who seeks the professional development responsibility to support new staff members while working collaboratively with the Emeritus Colleague.