Overview of mentor requirements:
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PI 34 articulates that school districts must support an initial educator with a mentor who is a teacher who has demonstrated solid performance for a minimum of three years, holds a professional educator license, and has received formal mentor training, i.e., is a “certified mentor”.
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Further, the mentor may not be in a position to formally evaluate their mentee and therefore may not serve on the Professional Development Team.
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Each mentor must be assigned only one initial educator.
Overview of mentor responsibilities:
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Provide the initial educator with ongoing support, from orientation sessions through help with self-reflection and goal setting within the initial educator’s Professional Development Plan.
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Assist the initial educator in understanding the culture of their school(s)
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Observe the initial educator’s teaching and provide advice and support
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Help their mentee with ways of communicating with peers and parents
For more information, follow these links to view Powerpoint Presentation by DPI:
• http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/ppt/initial.ppt #303,10,Role of Mentor
• http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/ppt/initial.ppt #316,13,Criteria for Selecting Mentors
Also, see the Wisconsin DPI’s Initial Educator Support System District Guide for more specific information. Download the guide:
• http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/pdf/iessdistrictguide.pdf