Two New Programs Announced

The purpose of the Mentoring Program is to provide an experienced teacher to work with newly accredited teachers. The mentor will guide them and share their experience, knowledge and resources. One mentor will have no more than eight new teachers, and the commitment will be for six months. They will assist new teachers in their transition from student to teacher and support their continued T’ai Chi Chih journey. How wonderful for new teachers to experience being part of a community of teachers who work together and support each other.

Our first two mentors, April Leffler and Stacey Moore, are working with teachers from the May accreditation. They feel the program has been helpful to the new teachers in setting up classes, answering questions about situations that have come up during their teaching, and encouraging them to continue their daily practice and stay connected with their fellow classmates. If you are an experienced teacher and would like to support new teachers as they take on this new role, consider becoming a mentor by contacting me.

The other new program is the Continuing Education Program. Over the years there have been many discussions about teachers being recertified periodically. Justin was against this mainly on the grounds of the added expense, and he also believed in the integrity or teh of the teachers, that they would take it upon themselves to come to TCC events and keep their form fresh and accurate.

Lately several teachers have mentioned that their employers are requesting proof that they are keeping up their TCC teaching skills. Thus the Continuing Education Program was developed. Teachers who attend an intensive will receive a certificate with 27 hours of continuing education noted. The first three days of a TCC accreditation course is mainly working with TCC movements so a teacher who attends any or all of the first three days will receive continuing education hours. The Seijaku accreditation course will also be included in the program. At this time these are the only events that will be part of the program.

It is not mandatory for any teacher to attend any of the above courses or think they have to be recertified. The program was put in place to answer the needs of teachers who need to demonstrate their continued learning for their employment. These two new programs support teachers at the beginning of their journey and as they continue teaching. It makes me feel our TCC community is healthy and thriving. Thank you to those who worked on mentoring guidelines.