Mentorship Program

The objective of the New Prague Area Schools Mentorship Program is to strengthen the training of our non-tenured teachers (new, second, and third year teachers) and assist in the development of long-term careers in education. This task is accomplished with the commitment of the Educational Services Staff, Mentor and Mentee working collaboratively.

📄 2023-2024 Mentorship Handbook

Our Goals:

  • Become oriented to the district standards and protocols
  • Strengthen professional practices in curriculum and instruction
  • Establish a disposition for continuous professional development and develop collegiality
  • Increase student achievement

Three-Year Cycle to support:

  • New teacher effectiveness
  • Improve teacher retention
  • Strengthen teacher leadership

Accomplishing the Goals:

  • Educational Services Staff, Mentors, and Mentees working together
  • Observations from the Educational Services Staff
  • Observations from the building Principal
  • Working through a framework designed for goal setting, discussions, and reflections

Strive throughout the year to:

  • Observe at least two other classroom teachers of similar grade level/subject area
  • Participate in professional development sessions

NPAS Promises:

  • Provide on-going, comprehensive staff development
  • Formative observations by the Educational Services Staff
  • Professional development sessions to design to support professional practices

Mentorship Program Roles and Expectations

  • Works with Mentor and Mentees
  • Coordinates district mentorship activities and discussion topics
  • Conducts informal observations intended to provide feedback, allow for discussion, and reflections of practices
  • Serves as a resource
  • A role model and advocate
  • Establish a relationship which instills trust, mutual respect, and collegiality
  • Encourage support, guide, and provide feedback to the mentee
  • Establish a routine for consistent on-going communication
  • Serve as a resource in order to share thoughts, ideas, and information to develop professional pedagogy
  • Take an active part in the training provided at the district and building levels
  • Keep an open dialogue with Educational Services Staff, Mentor, fellow team members, and staff
  • Work with the Educational Services Staff to complete teaching observational experiences
  • Put forth an honest effort to help ensure observational experience and Mentorship Program is successful