About Our Program Mentors

What are the qualifications of an Induction Mentor?

The Aspire Teacher Induction Program assigns qualified mentors and provides guidance and clear expectations for the mentoring experience. Qualifications for mentors include:

• • • Knowledge of the context and content area of the participating teacher's teaching assignment

    • Demonstrated commitment to professional learning and collaboration

    • Possession of a current California Clear Teaching Credential

    • Ability, willingness, and flexibility to meet participating teacher needs for support

    • Minimum of three years of effective teaching experience

    • May not be the induction candidate’s formal evaluator

Guidance and clear expectations for the mentoring experience include:

• • • Providing "just in time" support for participating teachers, in accordance with the ILP, along with longer-term guidance to promote enduring professional skills

    • Meet with the participating teacher for at least one hour per week.

    • Facilitation of candidate growth and development through modeling, guided reflection on practice, and feedback on classroom instruction

    • Connecting participating teachers with available resources to support their professional growth and accomplishment of the ILP

    • Periodically reviewing the ILP with participating teachers and making adjustments as needed

How are Induction Mentors trained and supported?

Mentors meet for their own professional development 6 times per academic year. The mentor training is designed and facilitated by the Director of New Teacher Development. The scope and sequence of mentor training is updated each year, with the following goals:

• • 1. Support mentors in developing and expanding their coaching repertoire.

    2. Expose mentors to high leverage strategies to support the induction program components.

    3. Provide guidance to mentors on implementation of the induction evidence collection process.

    4. Build comradery among induction mentors in a region to encourage group support and guidance.

Who can be an Induction Mentor?

There are several different types of mentors within Aspire’s program, each of these types have a different path to becoming a mentor

• • • Full-Time, Site-Based Teachers

      1. Have full time teaching assignments

    • Regional Instructional Coaches: in some regions regional instructional coaches will work within the induction program as part of their instructional coaching assignment

    • Assistant Principals/Instructional Deans/ Site-Based mentors: at some sites a school employee without a full time teaching assignment will work within the induction program as part of their school’s coaching/mentoring assignment

When and how is a mentor assigned to a participating teacher?

• • Mentors are assigned to participating teachers within 30 days of enrollment, by the director of new teacher development in collaboration with the PT's principal.

  • Matching for the upcoming cohort begins in May and continues through the beginning of the cohort (October)

  • Teachers hired and/or first eligible for Induction between October and the 15th of January are assigned to mentors soon after enrollment in the Program

  • Once a mentor is assigned they will reach out to each participating teacher directly to start their program, within 30 days, and will set a schedule of no less than weekly 1-hour meetings for individualized support and mentoring.

How can I provide feedback about my mentoring experience?

• • Participating teachers complete two surveys that allow them to give mentor feedback (mid year and end of the year).

  • For immediate concerns or questions, contact the Director of New Teacher Development, Ruth Negash (ruth.negash@aspirepublicschools.org).

Back: Program Components Next: Early Completion Option