What is an LCC Mentor?
Each professionally certified individual (with less than 3 years of public school experience, or new to teaching in Maine) will be assigned a LCC Mentor by the LCC Chair in consultation with the Falmouth Director of Learning. The mentor’s main task will be to coach his or her mentee. In doing so, mentors will provide guidance and support in creating and completing a Falmouth LCC Mentoring (recertification) plan. LCC Mentors will also assist their mentees in developing collegial professional partnerships as the primary means of professional development and achieving LCC Mentoring plan goals (see Chapter 180, Section 11).
FALMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS APPROVED MENTOR LIST
Qualifications of LCC Mentors (see Chapter 180, Sec 11, #6) will be:
1. Having at least three years of experience as an educator
2. Working under a professional certificate
3. Completion of a Mentor training program approved by the State of Maine Department of Education
The responsibilities of each LCC Mentor are:
1. Being a resource for the mentee, including support services and technical assistance needed by candidates to maintain certificates
2. Collaborating with the mentee to design a LCC Mentoring plan that will help the educator provide documentation of meeting Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Standards
3. Conducting at least three classroom observations of the mentee per year with pre- and post-observation conferences
4. Observing all aspects of mentee’s performance as related to the job
5. Meeting on regular basis, monthly or more often, with the mentee to collaborate and determine his/her progress toward completion of their LCC Mentoring plan (Monthly up-dates of the meetings must be submitted to the LCC chairperson in a timely manner)
6. Making a formal recommendation to the LCC indicating whether or not the mentee has met their LCC mentoring goals successfully.
Support mentors will be expected to work with the same mentee for the assigned mentoring period.
The LCC will make every effort to match qualified LCC mentors with new educators requiring a mentor using the following prioritizing guidelines:
1) Location – FES , FMS, FHS
2) Impact areas – Content area, grade level, specialization
In the event of a match that does not proceed successfully, a change can be made. The staff member seeking a change will submit a written request to the LCC Chair.
SECTION F LCC Mentoring Plans
A LCC Mentoring Plan will be prepared by each mentee, in cooperation with his/her LCC Mentor.
An observation sequence consisting of a pre-conference, observation and post-conference will be conducted by the LCC Mentor prior to the writing of the mentee’s plan. It is recommended that the observation be completed before October 15th. The conferences and observation may provide direction for the LCC Mentoring Plan goals. Goals will be written to reflect Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Standards. The goals for improving professional skills will be consistent with the certificate level or endorsement.
Each mentor will present a LCC Mentoring Plan for his/her mentee to the LCC by the November meeting of the first year. Any necessary revisions must be completed and the plan resubmitted by December meeting.
By the end of the LCC Mentoring Plan period, the mentor will present documentation of the evidence supporting completion of the plan to the LCC.
LCC mentors will recommend resources for services and technical assistance available to fulfill the goals and objectives of the mentee’s LCC Mentoring plan.
Quick Guide for Mentors and Mentees:
FALL
Develop an LCC Mentoring Plan. Goals come from Maine's 10 Initial Teaching Standards
Maine's 10 Initial Certification Standards (CH 118)
Schedule with LCC Chair to present the plan to the LCC for approval by the November LCC Meeting
FALL/WINTER/SPRING
Meet on a regular basis, monthly or more often. Update the LCC Chair after each meeting (quick email noting meeting topic)
Do three observation cycles (pre-conference, observation, post-conference). Each year.
At the end of the plan, come to the April or May LCC meeting to make a brief, oral report to the LCC committee reporting on the status of the mentee achieving their goals.
Recertification Hours for Mentors and Mentees
Mentors and mentees may earn recertification credit toward the 90 required hours:
F. Serving as a PGPE Mentor or LCC Support Mentor – up to 15 hours per assignment and up to 45 hours (3 assignments) over a five-year renewal period
P. Completion of an LCC Mentoring Plan - up to 15 hours for a 1 year plan; up to 30 hours for a 2-year plan (for mentee)