Mentorship Program

The Mentoring Program is a partnership approach to improving instruction so all students can achieve at high levels.

The heart of mentoring is the relationship teachers and mentors develop.
The focus of that relationship is supporting our first and second-year teachers in becoming the teacher they aspire to be.
The goal of the mentoring program is to develop effective and successful teachers who choose to stay in the teaching profession.
The reason for mentoring is that research states teacher effectiveness improves dramatically for teachers in the first couple of years teaching.

Beginning Teachers

Who is eligible? First and second year teachers who participate in Columbia Gorge Education Service District'a Mentoring Program.

What are the benefits? Beginning teachers will receive between 50-75 hours of support throughout the school year in the following ways:

One day of Orientation before the rest of the teachers arrive
Weekly meetings with a mentor to talk about your successes and your challenges
New Teacher Forums are presented four times a year
Time to observe other teachers
Feedback on your own teaching
3 graduate credits are available through Portland State University

If you are interested in participating in the Mentoring Program, contact your principal.

Mentors

Who is eligible to be a mentor? Teachers with five or more years of teaching experience and would like to support new teachers.

How does a teacher become a mentor?

Teachers who are interested are encouraged to fill out an application and send it to Mauree Donahue Revier.
Mentors are expected to attend eight (8) days of training provided by the Oregon Department of Education using the curriculum from New Teacher Center.
The training consists of 4 sessions, each lasting two days. The location of the training changes each year.
The topics of the training are:
- Instructional Mentoring
- Observing and Conferencing
- Using Data to Inform Instruction
- Designing Effective Instruction.

What are the expectations?

Mentors are expected to meet with their beginning teacher weekly. During these weekly conversations, Mentors support beginning teachers on topics selected by the beginning teacher

establishing a classroom culture for learning
observing and providing feedback
looking at student work
lesson planning for differentiation
sharing resources
providing emotional support.
to keep notes on their meetings with their beginning teachers and log in the hours they meet.

Districts and Principals

What is the role of the district leadership and principal in supporting the mentor and beginning teacher? The distric leadership and principal provide support for a successful partnership on behalf of the mentor, and beginning teacher and their students.

assign new teachers within the area of their pre-service preparation
set side time for the mentor and beginning teacher to meet, conduct observations, and attend professional development
review the class list to ensure classes that are balanced with regard to students with special needs, English language learners, and student performance levels
provide time and resources for mentors to attend training
compensate the mentor

Districts compensate Mentors, and provide substitutes for Mentors to attend trainings and observe teachers. Mentors are supported in their work by the Columbia Gorge ESD Mentor Program Coordinator.