Minnesota’s most successful Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher mentoring and induction program.

With more than 20 years of experience mentoring new agriculture & natural resources, business & marketing, family & consumer, health/human services, trade & industry, and work-based learning teachers, our CTE Teacher Induction Program (TIP) and the advanced mentoring programs give you the tools to be successful.

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CTE Teacher Induction Program (TIP)

Introductory mentoring and induction for secondary teachers new to the profession who are in need of support with foundations of CTE and basic pedagogy/instruction, most often Tier 1 and Tier 2 teachers, or those teaching on an Out-of-Field Permission. CTE TIP offers free curriculum, mentoring, professional development, and resources.

License-Specific Teacher Induction Programs (TIP)

Advanced mentoring and induction for those who have recently completed a teacher preparation program (Tier 3) or those who have completed CTE TIP (Tier 2 or Tier 3) and need license-specific support to build a program, design and adopt curriculum, and enhance their teaching and pedagogy. Tier 1 or 2 teachers should first complete CTE TIP.

Teacher Introductory Mentoring

Career & Technical Education (CTE) TIP

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Teacher License-Specific Mentoring

Ag, Food, & Natural Resources (AFNR) TIP Business & Marketing (B&M) TIP Family & Consumer Science (FCS) TIP Health/Human Services Education (HSE) TIP Trade & Industry (T&I) TIP Work-Based Learning (WBL) TIP

District Leaders, Administrators, and Counselors

Lead CTE Network
Lead CTE Network

The Lead CTE Network is a new statewide program designed for district leaders, counselors, and administrators. It combines in-person support with resources and professional development to strengthen CTE leadership at the district level. Building on the success of our CTE TIP mentoring program—and backed by more than 20 years of experience operating TIP—the Lead CTE Network offers a research-based, proven approach to professional development for CTE leaders and administrators.

Mentoring Participants

Academy for Sciences and Agriculture (Vadnais Heights), Aitkin, Anoka-Hennepin, Battle Lake, Bertha-Hewitt, Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian, Brainerd, Breckenridge, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, Career Pathways (St. Paul), Cass Lake-Bena, Chokio-Alberta, Climax-Shelly, Cloquet, Cook County (Grand Marais), Crosby-Ironton, Delano, Duluth, Eastern Carver County (Chaska), Eden Prairie, Eden Valley-Watkins, Edina, Elk River, Fosston, Frazee-Vergas, Hawley, Hendricks, Hermantown, Hills-Beaver Creek, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Intermediate 287 (Plymouth), Intermediate 288 (Shakopee), Intermediate 916 (St. Paul), Jordan, Kimball, La Crescent-Hokah, Lake City, Lakeview, Luverne, Mahnomen, Mesabi East, Minneapolis, Minnesota Transitions Charter (Minneapolis), Minnewaska, Moorhead Area, Moose Lake, Morris, New Prague, Norman County East (Twin Valley), North Branch, Northern Lights (St. Paul), Ogilvie, Ortonville, Osakis, Osseo, Parkers Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Pequot Lakes, Pierz, Pillager, Rochester, Roseville, Rush City, Saint Paul, Spring Lake Park, Springfield, Staples-Motley, Technical Academies of Minnesota (Willmar), Triton, United South Central (Wells), Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, West Central (Barrett), Westbrook-Walnut Grove, and Wheaton.

Adrian, Aitkin, Anoka-Hennepin, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove-City, Austin, Bemidji, Brainerd, Career Pathways (Saint Paul), Chisholm, Chokio-Alberta, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Cook County, Crosby-Ironton, Dawson-Boyd, Delano, DREAM Academy (Willmar), Duluth, Eastern Carver County (Chaska), Eden Prairie, Elk River, Ellsworth, Fairmont, Fergus Falls, Fergus Falls, Floodwood, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Greenway, Herman-Norcross, Hills-Beaver Creek, Hmong College Prep (Saint Paul), Houston, Intermediate 287 (Plymouth), Kingsland (Spring Valley-Wykoff), Lakeview, Marshall County Central (Newfolden), Minneapolis, Minnesota Transitions Charter (Minneapolis), Minnewaska, Montevideo, Moorhead, Mounds View, North Branch, Northeast Metro 916 (White Bear Lake), Osakis, Osseo, Osseo/Maple Grove, Parkers Prairie, Richfield, Rochester, ROCORI (Cold Spring), Roseville, Royalton, Southwest Metro Intermediate (Shakopee), Springfield, St. Louis Park, Staples-Motley, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, Willow River, Yellow Medicine East (Granite Falls), and Zimmerman.

Aitkin, Becker, Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian, Braham, Brainerd, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, Cambridge-Isanti, Career Pathways Charter (St. Paul), Cass Lake-Bena, Chisholm, Cloquet, Cook County (Grand Marais), Dassel-Cokato, Dawson-Boyd, Duluth, Edina, Faribault, Farmington, Fergus Falls, Greenway, Howard Lake-Wavery-Winstead, Intermediate 917 (Rosemount), Isle, Jordan, Killiher, Kimball, La Crescent-Hokah, Lake City, Lake Park-Audubon, Lakeview, Littlefork-Big Falls, Mahnomen, Mankato, Minneapolis, Minnewaska, Moorhead, Morris, Mountain Iron-Buhl, Ortonville, Osakis, Osseo, Red Wing, Rochester, St. Clair, St. Charles, St. Louis County, Saint Paul, Triton, Warroad, Wayzata, Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Wheaton, and Wrenshall.

Aitkin, Alexandria, Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, Cass Lake-Bena, Chisholm, Faribault, Kasson-Mantorville, Lakeville, Lancaster, Minneapolis, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Osakis, Proctor, Rochester, Rush City, Saint Paul, South Washington County (Saint Paul), Tracy, Warroad, and Westonka (Mound).

Mentoring Frequently Asked Questions

A: There is no cost to participants. TIP is funded through legislative appropriations and grants. A limited number of spaces are available each year, and if those are filled, Perkins funding may also support participation.

A: TIP runs for one school year. It includes two statewide in‑person conferences (each 24 hours—one at the start and one at the end) and monthly 1.5‑hour online meetings on topics such as safety, grading, teaching methods, CTE funding, and classroom management. Optional workshops on topics like licensure and program requirements are also offered.

A: Mentors are experienced CTE educators with proven teaching success and mentoring skills. Many are past TIP participants themselves. Because CTE teachers are often the only teacher in their content area within a district, TIP connects participants to regional mentors, statewide content experts, and peers who can share resources and best practices, along with local mentors for site‑level onboarding.

A: Yes. The Career and Technical Education Teacher Induction Program (CTE TIP) is Minnesota’s statewide CTE mentoring program. It combines in‑person support, curriculum resources, and professional development to help teachers succeed in their first years. On average, 86% of TIP participants return to teach the following year, and more than 80% are still teaching two years later.

A: CTE TIP is introductory mentoring for secondary teachers new to the profession, typically Tier 1 or Tier 2 teachers or those on an Out‑of‑Field Permission. It focuses on foundational CTE skills and basic pedagogy and includes free curriculum, mentoring, professional development, and resources.

License‑Specific TIP programs are advanced mentoring for teachers who have already completed a teacher preparation program (Tier 3) or who have completed CTE TIP and now need license‑specific support. These advanced programs help teachers build programs, design and adopt curriculum, and deepen their pedagogy. Teachers at Tier 1 or Tier 2 should complete CTE TIP before enrolling in a License‑Specific TIP program.

A: No. TIP supports first‑year teachers, early‑career teachers, newly licensed teachers, and teachers who are new to a specific CTE license area.

A: Yes. Both statewide conferences are required.

A: Mentors are assigned based on your content area, region, and needs. We make every effort to match you with someone who fits your situation.

A: No. TIP and our licensure programs are separate. Enrollment in TIP does not mean you are enrolled in a teacher preparation program. However, our staff manage both programs, so we can help TIP participants with licensure questions and next steps. In addition, prior learning and experiences from TIP can be recognized if you later enroll in one of our licensure programs.

A: Yes. While TIP itself is not a licensure program, our staff commonly support TIP participants as they move from Tier 1 to Tier 2 and eventually Tier 3.

A: The state requires districts to provide mentoring, and many districts use CTE TIP to meet this requirement. Outside of that, CTE TIP is generally not required, but it is highly recommended and often supported by administrators.

A: Contact Dr. Lavyne Rada, Associate Director of Teacher Recruitment & Retention, at lrada@lcsc.org.

“Meeting people in my same position who can understand the stress and trying to figure out the new job was so helpful.”

“I enjoyed connecting with people that have done it for years and leaning on them at times for help.”

“It was so useful to know I was not alone.”

“I could not have made it through this school year without TIP.”

“Being able to talk and connect with other teachers in my licensure area was so useful. I do not have anyone else in my building at school to talk through and share ideas with.”

“The mentors help so much! As a brand new teacher, there are almost too many amazing resources available through CTE TIP.”

“I loved being able to reach out for help when needed. And receiving TRUSTED advice!”

“I appreciated the sense of community with others in the same position. Modeling best practices and learning the practical aspects of being a successful CTE teacher.”

“Besides the students, it was the support from CTE TIP staff and mentors that kept me going.”

“As a mentor, CTE TIP rejuvenated me. I feel like I have something to give. I can support and help others more than I realized. I finally feel relevant. Not just some 30 years of experience teacher nearing retirement.”