The New Teacher Experience is a program with the Louisiana Department of Education designed to increase teacher effectiveness, enhance skills, and reduce attrition among beginning teachers. The program will provide both direct supports to teachers and system supports to improve student achievement by improving beginning teacher effectiveness and teacher retention.

New teachers

The program creates collaboration opportunities for new teachers by establishing monthly Affinity Groups for new teachers to gather after working hours. These Affinity Groups will be led by outstanding educators across the state.

The goals of these groups will revolve around the following:

• linking new teachers by a common purpose or interest.
• ensuring an inclusive environment where new teachers are valued and empowered to succeed.
• improving teachers’ craft through discussion, collaboration, and the use of purposeful materials and leadership.

New teachers can apply to join local Affinity Groups and begin building their professional networks.

Experienced teachers 

Experienced teachers can apply to become Affinity Group Leaders, where they will:

• host 20-member groups for novice teachers to experience socialization and collaboration with their peers.
• ensure an inclusive environment where new teachers are valued, included, and empowered to succeed.
• improve teachers’ craft through discussion, collaboration, and the use of purposeful materials and leadership.

Affinity Group Leaders will be compensated $2,500 for their service. 

Applications for Affinity Group Leaders open on May 30 and close at 11:59 p.m. on June 12.