| Retention Strategies If appropriate instructors are recruited, they are committed to teaching and will find satisfaction and enjoyment in the classroom. The main retention strategy is to provide them with the tools and support they need to do their job well. "In 31 years, I've seen a lot of programs come and go. This is the most exciting curriculum I've seen. Teachers have access to cutting edge technology, to other instructors if there are problems, and they have access to Cisco. It's dynamic." Ken Stanley CTAC Wilmington, NC Cisco has a variety of professional development tools for Networking Academy instructors. All Networking Academies have access to technical support. On the community server web site, they can share lesson plans and lab activities. The annual Networkers conference brings instructors together to learn about the latest technology advances. "Our teachers have a burning need for relevant experience. It is difficult for a teacher to prepare a student for a culture they have never experienced. That's why Networkers is a good experience for teachers. They meet and see the production people." Anne Urevick Philadelphia Public Schools Philadelphia, PA "The Cisco Area Academy Managers are always there and available. When I send an email, I get the help I need to continue." Mark Alvarado Mission High School San Francisco, CA "They need a high level of administrative support in their organizations. Teachers don't realize what it's going to be. It's brand new. They need an extra prep hour for the first year. They take on a lot of upper level material in a short time. We recommend that Networking Academies recruit people who are high energy and have a commitment to make the program work." Shirley Robinson Santa Clara County Office of Education San Jose, CA Regional Networking Academies can build community through meetings, special speakers, and online discussions encouraging instructors to learn from one another. By making the experience more satisfying, they will be encouraged to stay. The SCCOE Regional Networking Academy hosts monthly evening meetings in the Lab. Guest speakers present a new lab or a different take on an existing one. Ken Stanley's Networking Academy hosts face-to-face meetings to introduce new equipment or software tools. They discuss issues and come up with solutions. "You have to create a team. At the beginning of every semester, I have a barbeque. We kick back and everybody shares what they're doing in the classroom. I try to individualize the support. I visit their Networking Academies once a month and call them on the phone. I create PowerPoint presentations for them to use. We've made it a team and share back and forth." Bob Schoenherr Clear Lake Community College Lake County, CA Networking Academies with non-traditional student populations might need to provide extra support to instructors so that they can focus on the curriculum. "I'm the liaison. The instructor and I have good communication. He gives a status report each week. If a client has a problem, the instructor will let me know. With the client's consent, the instructor, the client and I will talk about an issue that may be affecting how the client is doing in class. In one case, the instructor went above and beyond to help the student finish the class. Usually the problem is not with the class, it is with something else in the client's life." Amy Estes Emergency Housing Consortium San Jose, CA |
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