North Carolina School System Expands to Full Time Mentoring [News Observer] Wednesday 03/16/05 10:48 AM
North Carolina already has a strong mentoring program for their school systems. First and second year teachers are automatically matched up with seasoned teachers for support and advice. The problem is that the mentors don't have enough time, even with the $1000 incentive pay. The new program aims at addressing this mentor overload by having senior teachers mentor full time.
These full time mentors, or master teachers as they are referred to in the program, are trained to support, evaluate and coach new teachers. Each mentor is assigned 15 new teachers.
The motivation is clear from their own studies. New teachers that are mentored stay longer and are more effective teachers. According to one school district, the retention rate for mentored teachers is 88% versus 83% for the overall population. Teaching, like most professions, requires support in order to improve.
Some of the features of the program from the mentees perspective: it eases frustration, mentors observing in the classroom provide more useful advice, having mentors available via phone or email provides help when it is needed.
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