Mentor Qualifications
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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)