SRPs work together to build peer mentoring programs

chool-Related Professionals gathered from across the state this winter to share their ideas for new peer mentor pilot programs, plans they’ve been carefully crafting since they were accepted into the NYSUT SRP Peer Mentoring Program last October.

Strategies varied, but the goals were the same: increase SRPs’ professional confidence, boost morale, improve retention, and enhance student growth.

“The NYSUT SRP Peer Mentoring Program walks leaders through the steps of creating a program for their local and builds a community of experienced professionals to help guide the next generation of educators,” said NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, whose office leads SRP initiatives.

Launched in 2024, the program is designed to help SRP leadership teams develop peer mentor programs in their school districts. SRPs agree that training and mentoring are critical to recruitment and retention strategies, but few districts have programs in place.

“We are putting people in classrooms with our most vulnerable populations and there’s no training and no support for them; that leads to high turnover,” said Katy Smith, president of the Rush-Henrietta Employees Association, Paraprofessionals Chapter. Smith was part of the 2024 cohort. She returned this year to serve as a facilitator, reviewing her assigned team’s plans, discussing approaches, and answering questions.

For facilitator Josh Frasier, president of the Kenmore-Tonawanda School EA, the SRP mentoring program he helped launch last year represented a solution to low staff morale. For his administration, however, the program was a long-awaited answer to employee retention.

“The average cost to replace an employee is $10,000,” Frasier said. “Administrators are always fearful about budget deficits, but mentor programs are an investment.” KTEA’s program covers all 45 titles in the unit.

Despite the proven benefits, no states currently require mentoring or induction support for SRPs; only 31 states require these types of support for teachers.

Sandra Cimmino, president of the Fonda-Fultonville United Employees Association, is excited to launch her district mentoring program, which is initially being rolled out to teaching assistants and teacher aides because they are student-facing. The program, which requires that all new hires meet one-on-one with their mentor 30 minutes a week to discuss issues they’re encountering and set goals, has been well-received by the district, said Cimmino.

Initially, Cimmino thought administration might use the program as a bargaining chip in negotiations. “But they didn’t,” she said. “They were actually surprised that we didn’t have a mentoring program already.” In fact, the district approved stipends for both the program coordinator and the mentors, she said.

The in-person NYSUT training is structured to be a “for SRPs by SRPs” opportunity, with five SRP facilitators working directly with their appointed teams. Participating locals are eligible to apply for NYSUT grant funding to launch their new mentor programs. Applications for the next round of the NYSUT SRP Peer Mentoring Program will likely open in 2028.