SPPS Minimum Mentor Qualifications

• Tenured in Saint Paul Public Schools and no improvement plan within the last 3 years
• Principal recommendation
• Available to provide mentoring support outside of the contracted school day
• Experience with grade level or content/professional area of the mentee
• Commitment to racial and gender equity development
• Knowledge of content/professional best practices and district initiatives
• Ability to positively build relationships with others
• Experience with adult learners
• Effective communicator
• Experience with collecting and analyzing data and modifying practices to meet the needs of all students

Mentor Selection Criteria

Personal and Professional Dispositions

• Demonstrates commitment to own professional growth and learning
• Eager to support a new colleague
• Communicates openly, honestly, and sensitively with students, staff, and families
• Encourages and nurtures an appreciation of diversity
• Is friendly, approachable, and accessible
• Is enthusiastic and optimistic
• Is dependable and trustworthy
• Demonstrates a patient, helpful, and caring attitude
• Models reflective practices

Mentoring Knowledge and Skills

• Understands adult learning theory and development of professional practices
• Knows how to analyze practices based on criteria of professional standards
• Understands the reciprocal relationships among educational theory, research, and practices
• Uses an inquiry approach for problem solving
• Uses a continuous improvement, professional growth model

Instructional/Professional Skills

• Demonstrates solid content/professional knowledge
• Considers diverse learner needs to personalize and differentiate practices to promote achievement for all learners
• Creates and manages a productive learning environment
• Demonstrates a broad repertoire of instructional/professional practices
• Assesses learning and modifies practices to meet learner needs

Adapted from MN Induction Guidelines Teacher Support Partnership (TSP)