For New Teachers
Professional Responsibilities
- Wear proper attire to school. Neat, clean and modest clothing sends an important message to your students, coworkers and administrators.
- Maintain a polite, congenial, positive and respectful manner. This applies to all people you come in contact with, not just administrators and coworkers.
- Use appropriate language. Don't swear, be aware of language usage foibles you may have, and use good grammar.
- Student records are confidential. Do not share student concerns freely with others. Parents, counselors, law enforcement agencies, social workers and other teachers may have legitimate needs for information, but the general public does not.
- Be aware of community standards. Some issues or topics may be off-limits due to your specific community standards. Ask your mentor what some of these may be.
- Ask, if you're unsure. Use your mentor's and administrator's knowledge to your own advantage.
Make sure you know procedures for:
- Student disciplinary action
- Arrival and departure
- Copying
- Internet access
- Parental contact
- Payday
- Grade reporting
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For Mentors
Professional Responsibilites
- Establish a relationship with the beginning teacher in order to develop a productive work environment.
- Communicate the needs of the beginning teacher to the administration.
- Solicit the assistance of the principal, other instructors, and counselors to provide support to the new teacher.
- Assist the beginning teacher to assimilate into the school community by pointing out the practices, procedures, and expectations of the teachers within their school.
- Introduce the new teacher to the staff.
- Discuss expectations, school procedures, fears, and daily tasks with your mentee.
- Share your professional experiences with your mentee.
- Acquant the new teacher with testing programs of the school and district.
- Discuss the new teacher's students if you have experience with them.
- Make time for communication with your mentee. If possible, allow them to observe your teaching.
- Observe your mentee's teaching. Feel free to make suggestions.
- Maintain a positive attitude about your profession.
- Be resilient, flexible, and open-minded about the skills and methodology used by your mentee. Remember that works for you might not work for them...and vice versa.
- Seek out training for yourself to be a better mentor.
Other items to address:
- School testing/grading program or software
- Discipline
- Parent interactions
- Mid-term reports
PowerPoint Presentations
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For School Administrators
Professional Responsibilities
- Make new teachers feel welcome.
- Assign new teachers to appropriate, competent mentors.
- Make sure the new teacher is fully aware of school policies.
- Make time for any questions your new staff may have.
- Make sure all appropriate employment and pay forms are complete.
- Assist new staff with computer access passwords and programs.
- Acquaint the new teacher with procedures for obtaining expendible materials and supplies.
- Provide support for extra-curricular roles to which the new teacher is assigned.
- Participate and lead in the analysis of school achievement data to identify school strengths and weaknesses and make suggestions for improvement
- Devote a significant amount of time and effort reviewing learning and testing materials.
Qualities of Good Mentors (from Branchburg School District, NJ)
Attitude and Character
- Is reflective and demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning;
- Willing to share information and ideas with colleagues;
- Is resilient, flexible, persistent, open-minded, and exhibits good humor;
- Willing to be a role model and to receive training to improve mentoring skills.
Communication Skills
- Is able to articulate and demonstrate effective instructional strategies
- Listens attentively
- Asks reflective questions
- Maintains confidentiality
Professional Expertise
- Has excellent knowledge of instructional pedagogy and subject matter
- Demonstrates excellent classroom management skills
- Has knowledge of child growth and development
- Demonstrates a collaborative and collegial relationship with peers
- Has knowledge of the laws, policies, and procedures of the school and district
Interpersonal Skills
- Easily establishes a rapport with others
- Is patient
- Is sensitive to the culture and climate of the school, district, and community
Other items to address:
- General school procedures
- Emergency procedures
- Field trip procedures
- Purchase orders/requisitions
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