Mentors

All mentors supporting GaTAPP candidates must complete the NGRESA GaTAPP Mentor Training, designed to equip mentors with the tools and expectations necessary for guiding teacher candidates effectively.

Once a mentor is officially registered as a candidate’s mentor, they will be enrolled in a four-module self-paced Canvas course hosted by NGRESA. This course covers essential topics such as program expectations, observation domains, observation tools, and completing an inter-rater reliability task. 

In addition to the Canvas course, mentors are required to attend a scheduled 45-minute virtual information session. Both the Canvas training and the live session are mandatory in order to serve as a GaTAPP mentor.

Mentors will receive access details and session dates after being registered in the system.

If you have questions or need support with enrollment, please contact Darcie Pritchett at darcie.pritchett@ngresa.org. 

Guideline 3:  A Georgia certified school-based mentor, preferably Teacher Support Specialist OR Coaching OR Teacher Support and Coaching endorsed, shall be assigned to fulfill the following responsibilities in support of the professional development of the Candidate: 

• Attends NORTH GEORGIA RESA Mentor Training to become familiar with GaTAPP Mentor responsibilities and GaTAPP program requirements. (GaTAPP Handbook/Handouts)

• Creates a supportive and reflective environment for addressing issues facing the candidate. (Program Evaluation; Mentor Teacher Feedback by Candidate)

• Observes the candidate as required. (Mentor Log Appendix 7; Classroom Observation Record – Domains 2 and 3 Appendix 3D)

• Conducts a pre-observation conference to provide a focus for the observation. The mentor and the Candidate should agree on the time for observation and the purpose of the observation. (RESA Supervisor or Mentor Pre/Post Conference Form Appendix 3B is used to document the pre-observation conference notes and the focus for the observation.)

• Conducts a post-observation conference to facilitate the Candidate in gaining a perspective on teaching through dialogue and joint reflection. (RESA Supervisor or Mentor Pre/Post Conference Form Appendix 3B is used to document the post-observation conference notes and the candidate’s observed strengths and weaknesses as well as recommendations.)

• Collaborates with the Candidate for the total number of mentoring hours. (Mentor Log Appendix 7)

• Coaches the Candidate in analyzing student work, providing meaningful commentary, reflecting on professional practice, and developing meaningful assessments. (Mentor’s/Candidate’s Guide to Examining Student Work Appendix 5)

• Uses effective instructional coaching to assist the candidate in planning, implementing, and assessing classroom instruction. (Program Evaluation: Appendix 17 and Candidate Reflection Form Appendix 3D)

• Collaborates with the CST members in the development and implementation of the Individual Induction Plan (IIP) that supports the professional growth of the teacher. The CST will revisit the IIP regularly and make changes as needed. NGRESA Supervisor guides this process. (See requirements for CST below.)

• Collaborates with the Candidate during the Field Experience reflection. (Field Experiences Appendix 12 - Candidate shares at mid-year and end of the year CST meetings)

• Supports the Candidate in the assembling of an electronic portfolio that demonstrates professional growth in standards-based practices. (Field Experiences Appendix 12 - Candidate shares at mid-year and end of the year CST meetings)

• Reviews the portfolio with the candidate and makes suggestion for revisions prior to submitting the portfolio. Signs off on final portfolio review prior to submission to the supervisor and final CST meeting. (Electronic Portfolio Content Requirements Appendix 15) 

Click Here to access the Roles of the School Based Mentor document from the GaTAPP Handbook

What does it take to be an effective mentor for a GaTAPP candidate? Read and reflect on the linked research-based practices.

• Mentoring New Teachers: A Fresh Look by SREB

• The Qualities of Effective Mentor Teachers by S. Gonser with Edutopia

• 4 Essential Guidelines for Mentors by A. Weinberg with Edutopia

Mentor Paperwork

Click Here to access the GaTAPP Mentor Paperwork file. These documents are editable. To edit, you will download to Microsoft or make a copy in Google. 

In this folder you will find:

• W-9 Contractor Form  (submit once in August with your GaTAPP Mentor Assurance)

• GaTAPP Mentor Assurance (submit once in August with your W-9)

• GaTAPP Appendix 7 Mentor Log (submit at the end of each semester with invoice and Appendix 20)

• GaTAPP Appendix 20 Mentor Feedback by Candidate (submit at the end of each semester with invoice and Appendix 7)

• Invoice (for billing - submit at the end of each semester with Appendix 7 & Appendix 20)

Paperwork Dropbox 

Use the secure Dropbox link below to upload your completed files:

👉 GaTAPP Mentor Paperwork Dropbox Link

You do not need a Dropbox account to upload. Just enter your name and email, and drag/drop or select your files.

How to Submit Your Documents

✔️ Double-check that your documents are complete and signed
✔️ Include your full name in each file name (e.g., Jones_Appendix7.pdf, Jones_Invoice.pdf)
✔️ Upload all documents at the same time if possible

Need Help?
If you have questions about which documents to submit or need technical support, please contact:
Darcie Pritchett, Professional Learning Coordinator, at darcie.pritchett@ngresa.org

Classroom Observations

Classroom Observations are conducted by both RESA supervisors and mentors. Mentors are to observe three times each semester. The mentor must sign and submit the Mentor Assurance Form to Amber Socaciu at amber.socaciu@ngresa.org. 

Click Here to access,  complete, sign, and submit the Mentor Assurance Form

Click Here to access the GaTAPP Mentor Observation Checklist

Formal Observations- Mentor 

The mentor will complete one formal observation per semester.  Each formal observation will include a pre-observation meeting to discuss the lesson prior to the observation, the observation, and a post-observation meeting to discuss how the lesson went. Each part includes formal documentation. 

1. The candidate will complete the Pre-observation Planning Form Appendix 3A, and the Learning Segment Appendix 3C. Both Appendix 3A and Appendix 3C must be provided to the mentor 48 hours prior to the observation. The mentor will conduct a pre-observation conference to discuss the observation and ask any questions he/she may have. The conference will be noted in the Pre-Post Observation Planning Form Appendix 3B. 

2. During the observation, the mentor will complete the “Notes” section of  Appendix 3B. 

3. A post-observation conference will be held after the observation. The candidate and mentor will discuss the observation and score the observation collaboratively using The Classroom Observation Record Appendix 3E and Danielson's Rubrics Appendix 4 at the post-observation meeting. The post-observation conference will be noted in the Pre-Post Observation Planning Form Appendix 3B. 

Informal Observations 

Informal observations are unannounced. Therefore the Pre-observation Planning Form Appendix 3A, and the Learning Segment Appendix 3C will not be completed prior to the observation. After the observation, the mentor and candidate will meet for a post-observation conference. The mentor will complete and discuss The Classroom Observation Record Appendix 3E. The candidate will complete and discuss The Candidate Reflection Form Appendix 3D.  

Click Here to access all observation documents (Appendix 3 and Appendices 3A-3E)

Candidate Support Team (CST)

A Candidate Support Team made up of the candidate, a school-based administrator, a school-based mentor/coach, and a North Georgia RESA GaTAPP Supervisor to ensure a reasonable expectation of initial success in the classrooms. A content area expert is required and will be added to the CST if needed. CST Minutes will be recorded by the supervisor at every CST Meeting (Appendix 11).

Click Here to access Appendix 11 - Candidate Support Team Minutes

Individual Induction Plan
All teacher candidates are required to work collaboratively with the CST to develop a Teacher Candidate Induction Plan. This plan should be data-driven and used to improve candidate performance in areas of need. Data sources for the creation of the plan may include but are not limited to self-assessment results, observation data, GACE results, dispositions, and assessments. Development of the Teacher Candidate Induction Plan should begin during the first CST meeting, with all team members contributing to the initial preparation. The teacher candidate and RESA supervisor should work with the mentor teacher to complete the plan for submission. The initial plan is to be completed no later than September 15th.

The Individual Induction Plan should be considered a living document. Progress should be discussed at each
CST meeting with revisions documented as needed. Progress should be considered an ongoing pursuit (Appendix 10).

Click Here to access the responsibilities of the CST

Click Here to access Appendix 10 - Individual Induction Plan

Dispositions
All teacher candidates will be assessed by the GaTAPP program coordinator, the RESA supervisor, and the Candidate Support Team at the beginning of the year, mid-year and end of the year for each year of the program. North Georgia RESA Support Team Evaluation of Candidate Dispositions will be used as the evaluation instrument for candidate dispositions. This rubric will be used to discuss goals and track the candidate’s progress at each CST Meeting. A candidate who repeatedly exhibits dispositions that are not appropriate for those of an educator will be dismissed from the program (Appendix 2). 

Click Here to access Appendix 2 - Candidate Disposition Rubric

Final CST
In addition to Appendices 2, 10, and 11, the final CST also includes Appendix 19, Appendix 14, and Appendix 16. The candidate's portfolio must be completed prior to the Final CST. 

Classroom Observations

Click Here to access the Observation Forms Folder. These files can be downloaded and edited in Microsoft. To edit the files using Google, you will need to make a copy of the file and save to your drive. Consider creating a GaTAPP Mentor Files folder (in Google or One Drive) to save all of the files for your candidate.

In this folder you will find:

• GaTAPP Appendix 3A Pre-Observation Planning Form

• GaTAPP Appendix 3B  Pre/Post Conference Form

• GaTAPP Appendix 3C  Lesson Planning Form

• GaTAPP Appendix 3D Candidate Reflection Form

• GaTAPP Appendix 3E Classroom Observation Record

Candidate Support Team (CST)

Click Here to access the CST Meeting Folder. These files can be downloaded and edited in Microsoft. To edit the files using Google, you will need to make a copy of the file and save to your drive. You can add these to your GaTAPP Mentor Files folder for record-keeping.

In this folder you will find:

• GaTAPP Appendix 2 Candidate Disposition Rubric

• GaTAPP Appendix 10 Individual Induction Plan

• GaTAPP Appendix 11 CST Meeting Minutes

• GaTAPP Appendix 14 Competencies for Certification (Final CST)

• GaTAPP Appendix 16 Electronic Portfolio Content Requirements (Final CST)

• GaTAPP Appendix 19 Principal EOY Progress Report (Final CST)

• GaTAPP Appendix 20  Mentor Teacher Feedback 

Click Here to access all Editable Handbook Appendices