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What structures and resources support MentorMT partners?

  • MentorMT prioritizes building a trusting, productive partnership for mentees and their mentors. The program design ensures that the mentoring relationship focuses on grade- and subject-aligned support for teaching, learning, and student/teacher well-being. At the same time, we create opportunities to interact with the wider mentoring community.
  • Intentional meetings. To ensure substantive interaction, mentors are expected to schedule a minimum of two intentional meetings per month, defined as real-time interactions focused on actionable improvements to teaching and learning.
  • Partners in Practice activities. Posted on the online Home Base, Partners in Practice activities (PIPs) are bite-sized modules that guide partners through a structured professional learning experience. Each PIP is presented in three stages: Exploration, Collaboration, and Application and results in new learning or a tangible product. A PIP might focus on reading a professional article, action planning, or revising a lesson to address whole-child competencies. Partners aim to complete two PIPs each semester.
  • Online discussions. The Home Base hosts two discussions open to all mentees and mentors. “Topics in Teaching” is an open-ended discussion allowing mentors and mentees to continue adding new insights over time. Each thread becomes an archive of community knowledge on a well-defined topic. “Ask Anything!” is reserved for specific and often time-sensitive requestsfor advice or feedback about effectively teaching content, preparing lessons and activities, finding and using resources, resolving student or classroom issues, interacting with parents or the community, maintaining personal well-being, and more
  • Book studies. Funding is available for mentoring partners to purchase a book relative to some aspect of teaching, learning, and student/teacher well-being at their subject area and/or grade level. Book studies can be documented as additional PIPs.
  • Site visits and partner meet-ups. Travel funding is available for mentoring partners to meet in person at least once during the school year. Mentors and mentees have visited each other’s schools, arranged to meet at a midway point or Rendezvous gathering, or attended a mutual professional event.

 

How does Mentor MT communicate with participants?

  • MentorMT is designed to provide new or underprepared teachers with maximal support while minimizing their time commitment for program participation. The primary source of communication and engagement for a mentee is through the mentor. Mentors, in turn, are provided with information through monthly Mentors Only meetings, email, and their assigned Metamentor. The Metamentors, each monitoring 30 to 40 partnerships, operate as a team and share decision-making with program leadership. All MentorMT participants receive a monthly newsletter with program highlights and important dates. As necessary, they may also receive program emails regarding matches, stipends, and other logistical concerns.