ACS-Hach Mentoring Program

The first few years of teaching can be challenging. Why not meet merely survive this time but thrive? The ACS-Hach Mentoring Program can help you do this with a comprehensive professional experience so that you have the tools and space to grow, build, and connect.

Grow

Advance your career with relevant, ongoing professional development and support.

Build

With assistance and support from ACS, New Teacher Center, and expert educators, build partnerships tailored to your specific needs and expectations.

Connect

Expand your professional network by connecting to a community of peers who share a passion for chemistry and interest in advancing chemistry education.

Benefits

As a mentee in the ACS-Hach Mentoring Program, you will receive the following benefits:

  • Ongoing professional and emotional support from highly qualified teacher mentors and chemists.
  • Ongoing professional development on content, pedagogy, and trends in chemical education.
  • Travel, lodging, and registration to the ACS national Spring meeting per year (see the Expectations below for the specific meeting dates, locations, and times).
  • Subscription to the Journal of Chemical Education (JCE).
  • Membership to the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT).

Expectations

In order to ensure you reap the benefits of the program, we have established expectations for your participation. These expectations will support you in ways that will impact your growth as a new teacher.

You are expected to:

  • Participate in the program for 3 years.  Three years may seem to be a long time to commit to a program but we want to see you succeed.  Research has shown that beginning teachers who receive support during their first three years of teaching not only remain in the profession but report greater professional gains.
  • Communicate (e.g., email, phone call, online in Our Place, or video chat) with your assigned mentor at least once a week.  Former mentees have reported communicating with their mentor more than once a week has improved their experience.
  • Set professional goals with your mentor.  You can use your the same goals for your school and/or district.  By setting your goals with your mentor, he/she will be able to further support you in reaching them. 
  • Log into Our Place (a facilitated discussion forum) four (4) times a month.  Our Place is a discussion forum moderated by mentor teachers.  In the community, you will have the opportunity to read discussion threads and/or post your questions and ideas.
  • Attend the ACS Spring Conference each year.   The ACS Spring Conference will provide you with the opportunity to meet in-person your mentor and other program participants, to attend ACS High School Day for the latest on chemistry education pedagogy and practices, to receive free stuff, as well as network with teachers and other chemistry professionals.  You are required to attend Saturday and Sunday programming.  All other days are optional.  All travel and expenses, including substitute teacher pay, will be covered by ACS.
    • ACS National Meeting & Exposition (Spring 2023)
      Crossroads of Chemistry
      March 26 - 30
      Indianapolis, IN

Questions?

Contact us at hach@acs.org or (800) 277-558 ext. 8178.