Questions and Answers about the Teacher Mentoring Program

Teachers new to the Somerville Public Schools are assigned a veteran mentor to help them navigate the Somerville Public Schools, our curriculum tools and instructional resources. Read the frequently asked questions about the teacher mentoring program below, or contact the Mentoring Coordinator.

Questions
1)  What do mentors do?
2)  Who was Mentor?
3)  What is a mentor?
4)  What is the mission?
5)  Why would I want to be a mentor?
6)  Who is assigned a mentor?
7)  What are the roles of the protege?
8)  Why do new teachers need a mentor?
 
Answers
1)  Q What do mentors do?
A
Relate: Mentors help build confidential relationships based on mutual trust, respect and professionalism. They develop a genuine understanding of their proteges' ideas and needs and they encourage the proteges to share and reflect on their experience.

Share: Mentors help identify unique aspects of school and community culture for the proteges and they share the school district's formal and informal procedures and practices.

Coach: Mentors assist the proteges in fine tuning their professional skills. They serve as role models to proteges and they share relevant experiences, examples, and strategies.

Guide: Mentors encourage proteges to work independently, to ask questions, and to reflect personally and professionally.
2)  Q Who was Mentor?
A
Mentor was the friend of Odysseus. Odysseus entrusted his son, Telemachus, to Mentor when he went on long journeys. Mentor's role was to provide advice, guidance and support to Telemachus in his father's absence.
3)  Q What is a mentor?
A
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a mentor as, "an experienced, trusted advisor or guide, a teacher, a tutor".
4)  Q What is the mission?
A
Our mission is to create a team environment that will enable each new teacher to become an effective member of our school community by providing multi-levels of support, advice and education. The induction program for new teachers will provide the foundation for reach new teacher to be self-sufficient, confident and ready for effective experiences in education.
5)  Q Why would I want to be a mentor?
A

  1. Be a positive role model

  2. Use your expertise to help new teachers entering the profession

  3. Improve job satisfaction and gain a sense of professionalism

  4. Foster collegiality among staff Leave a legacy to teaching
6)  Q Who is assigned a mentor?
A

  1. Teachers who are novices

  2. Teachers who have changed grade levels

  3. Teachers reassigned to new buildings

  4. Teachers new to the school district but not to teaching
7)  Q What are the roles of the protege?
A

  1. Be committed to learning and improving one's teaching craft

  2. Observe and learn from experienced teachers

  3. Be a good listener, be open-minded and be willing to learn from others

  4. Learn and grow from honest feedback

  5. Identify one's own personal and professional needs and ask for help

  6. Offer personal reflection on his/her own practice
8)  Q Why do new teachers need a mentor?
A
More than half of new teachers leave the profession in the first five years, new teachers who participate in induction programs are nearly twice as likely to stay in the profession as those who don't.

Research proves that a critical predictor of student success is teacher quality; mentoring fosters quality teaching.