MENTOR-TEACHER INTERN PROGRAM

May 25, 2007

Dear Colleague,

We are seeking to develop a pool of applicants who are interested in serving as Mentors for 2007-2008.

Mentors are released from the classroom 10% of their teaching time to provide continuous support to the interns through shared planning sessions, modeling lessons and observing. Mentors and interns review curriculum materials, discuss classroom management and motivational techniques and develop individual intern strengths based on enhanced understanding of current pedagogical principles.

* A mentor is a role model, motivator, communicator, adviser, guide, demonstrator, assessor, resource...and friend. The mentor does not evaluate and does not supervise.

MENTOR ELIGIBILITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In order to be eligible to be a Mentor in the North Bellmore Mentor-Intern Program, a teacher shall be:

• tenured and presently teaching in the North Bellmore Schools for five years or more
• willing to commit adequate time to insure the program's success: attend conferences, participate in training, keep a log
• committed to the roles and responsibilities of a Mentor
  • meet with Intern on a regular basis
  • arrange for regularly scheduled release time
  • attend required monthly MTIP meetings
  • orient the new teacher to the people, places, traditions, culture, programs, and curriculum of the school and district
  • encourage Intern to share experiences, joys, and problems with the Mentor
  • serve as a resource of ideas
  • return paperwork to the Coordinator in a timely fashion
• focused on enhancing teacher performance and student learning
• easily accessible
• able to "open up" the school and faculty to the new teacher; have good staff relationships
• empathetic to the Intern's concerns
• professionally competent and a model of a continuous learner
• willing to hold confidential all aspects of the relationship entrusted to them

 MENTOR REMUNERATION

 Mentors will be stipended according to the North Bellmore Teachers' Contract.

 If you are interested in becoming a Mentor for the 2007-2008 school year, please fill out the attached application and return it to the Teacher Center as soon as possible.

Annette Ziemianski
Project Coordinator