Alyson Mike, New Teacher Center; Lynn Kepp, New Teacher Center
e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS) is an innovative, nationwide, content-specific, online mentoring program that accelerates the growth and increases the retention of new science, math, and special education teachers. eMSS brings together an interactive online community to build teacher expertise within a structured program curriculum based on research and best practice in teacher development and online learning. After the session, participants will be able to (1) recognize the value of content focused-mentoring and (2) describe features of eMSS.
About the Presenters:
Alyson Mike, Senior Director of Online Professional Development, New Teacher Center
Alyson Mike serves as the senior director of online professional development at the New Teacher Center (NTC). She joined the NTC in 2007 with a focus on supporting beginning teachers in rural areas. Mike worked as an online mentor, facilitator, and facilitator coordinator in the e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS) program since 2002, prior to working for the NTC full time. She was a National Board Certified middle school science teacher and taught both high school and middle school for over 20 years. Most of her teaching was in East Helena, Montana, a small industrial town where she worked with high needs students who form the majority in the district. Mike was selected as Montana's Teacher of the Year in 2004. She is a Milken Educator awardee and a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. Mike is also actively involved in statewide service in science education. Her area of interest and research is professional learning, particularly online communities of practice. Mike holds an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University.
Lynn Kepp, Senior Vice President, Professional Services, New Teacher Center
Lynn Kepp is the senior vice president of professional services at the New Teacher Center (NTC) where she oversees a portfolio of induction services, including STEM-focused, mentor programs delivered face-to-face and online. NTC has been mentoring new STEM teachers online in e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS) for more than nine years via a National Science Foundation grant and partnerships with the National Science Teachers Association and Montana State University, Bozman. Kepp was one of the founding members of the eMSS project and led the transition to a self-sustaining program. NTC is also a founding partner in the 100 K in 10, which is a movement to create the next generation of innovators by providing American's classrooms with 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over 10 years. The NTC is committed to provide online and offline support and mentorship to 15,000 new STEM teachers over the next two years with the goal of accelerating teacher development and student learning and interest in STEM fields. Kepp works closely with CEO Ellen Moir and Senior Director of Online Professional Development Alyson Mike to engage with the 100 K in 10 community. Before starting at NTC as the director of online professional development, Kepp was the coordinator of teacher education at UC Santa Cruz, where she started the secondary science credential program. Kepp holds an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Cal State Fullerton and a PhD in Education and Teacher Development from the University of California, Riverside.
