SURN Novice Teacher Academy

The SURN Novice Teacher Academy targets novice teachers (those entering their first, second or third year of teaching) from divisions across the state. We know that many divisions have limited resources, and our hope is to enhance the efforts you are already undertaking in your individual divisions as you work to support new teachers.

The Academy offers in-person, highly interactive sessions that provide just-in-time strategies and information for novice teachers with an emphasis on collegial problem solving, engaging instructional strategies, and teacher well-being. All five, full-day academy sessions are facilitated by a cadre of trained coaches. We look forward to supporting and empowering our division’s work and your newest teachers!

GOALS

To establish supportive relationships that foster growth and learning
To create a safe space for learning and sharing
To empower novice teachers to adopt a positive, optimistic view of teaching and learning
To address just-in-time needs of novice teachers
To model effective teaching strategies
To promote the retention of novice teachers
To provide leadership opportunities for Novice Teacher Academy coaches

SURN Novice Teacher Academy Participants

FACILITATOR

Dr. Sarah Hylton, SURN

In partnership with coaches and guest presenters, Dr. Sarah Hylton facilitates SURN's Novice Teacher Academy.

Sarah wanted to be a teacher from the time she was six years old and set up a school in her mother’s laundry room with her reluctant siblings as students and, when they finally rebelled, with a trusty group of stuffed animals. She is passionate about teaching and learning and considers it a joy and a privilege to work with and learn from other teachers.

Sarah earned her B.A., M.Ed., and Ph.D. from William & Mary and now serves as the Director for Professional Learning for the School-University Resource Network (SURN) at William & Mary. She also teaches undergraduate, masters, and doctoral courses as adjunct faculty at William & Mary School of Education and has researched, written about, and presented locally, nationally, and internationally on topics related to novice teachers and curriculum, instruction, & assessment. Prior to joining SURN, Sarah taught secondary English for 15 years and served as a department chair, team lead, mentor, curriculum developer, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor.

AUDIENCE

Novice Teachers (1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of teaching)

INFORMATION

2026-27 Sessions Dates: September 24, October 28, December 9, January 27, & March 3
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
W&M School of Education

FEES

$1,000 - SURN Division Members
$1,500 - General (Non-SURN Division Members)

Includes morning coffee, materials, & lunch for each of the five sessions

Register here:

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Registration will close approximately one week in advance of this event or earlier, if the event reaches capacity. We will update this webpage when registration closes.

For a full list of SURN Division Members, please visit SURN. If you're interested in your division joining SURN, please have your Superintendent or Superintendent's designee contact Amy Colley, SURN's Executive Director, at accolley@wm.edu.

Please email surn@wm.edu with questions about registration or this event.