Online platform simplifies logistics for student teacher placements and new teacher mentoring
OAKLAND, CA, July 26, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ — Just in time for the return to in-person learning, the new online platform Torace simplifies and streamlines student teacher placements, making it faster and easier to match teacher mentors with mentees.
Each year, 300,000 student teachers get placed with mentor teachers. A lot rides on their student teaching experience: 40% of teachers end up being hired in the district where they student taught; and research has found who had better mentors tend to become better teachers. Yet the process to match teachers and mentors remains outdated.
“In working with school systems around the country, we kept finding that critical mentorship placements are managed by an inefficient mix of spreadsheets, phone calls, email chains and even sticky notes,” said Torace co-founder Aleka Calsoyas. “It’s time we give administrators a modern tool for mentor matching, so that they can focus less on the logistics and more on strengthening their programs.”
Torace is that tool. Allowing both education mentors and mentees to create online profiles that include their interests, preferences and strengths so that district administrators or higher education institutions can make high quality matches more easily. The platform allows administrators to automate invitations, emails, notifications and nudges and to quickly check the status of candidates seeking a mentor match. With all the information tracked in one place, it’s easy to monitor and pull data to gain deeper insights.
“Torace is a lifesaver! I placed more than 70 teachers using the platform in one year, and the detailed information about cooperating teachers and mentees enabled more thoughtful, intentional matches. The better the match, the better the experience, and the more likely the teacher will be hired once certified” said Peg Myers, Director of Human Resources, Chula Vista Elementary School District.
Co-founders Calsoyas and Don O’Callaghan have worked together for nearly a decade, focusing on human resource challenges in education through their consultancy, the Calsoyas Group and, prior to that, the nonprofit TNTP.
“The goal of all of our work is to create systems and supports that allow both teachers and students to reach their full potential,” said O’Callaghan. “With Torace, we see the potential to dramatically improve the teacher matching process to be more efficient, effective and equitable for everyone involved.”
About Torace
Torace is a platform designed to support the implementation of a variety of mentorship programs – from practicum and student teaching placements to novice teacher mentoring and school leader internships. Founded in 2020 by Aleka Calsoyas and Don O’Callaghan, who spent more than a decade working together on human resources systems in education, Torace is informed by research and the voice and experiences of educators. The platform is always free for participants, and offers a variety of bundles to meet the needs and budgets of K-12 education systems and their partners in higher education. To learn more, visit www.torace.com.
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