TTSN-DASN+2008-2009

 This state-wide online mentoring network is partial realization of the dream and vision of Rick Melmer, SD Secretary of Education and Melody Schopp, Director of the Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality, who recognized the need to bring our state’s new teachers - who were teaching in smaller, more isolated schools - together with experienced master teachers.
 * The Teacher to Teacher Support Network was launched in the fall of 2008 as a collaborative endeavor of the South Dakota Department of Education (Title IIA funding) and Dakota ASSETS (Dakota ASSETS is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by Technology and Innovation in Education.) **

The first network consisted of one-to-one mentor/new teacher partnerships that were carried out primarily through email and phone conversations. Limited face-to-face opportunities were made possible through financial support from DakotaASSETS.

In response to the successes and challenges of the inaugural year, the second year of TTSN will evolve into online communities of learners, made up of mentor and new teacher partner teams that are embedded in a broader support community. The funding will support a similar number of new teachers for the 2009-2010 school year.

TTSN - DASN 2008-2009 Fast Facts