Research & best practice suggest that the following

QUESTIONS ABOUT PROGRAM PURPOSE

must be answered based on local needs & purposeS

© 1998, Barry Sweeny

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A. What are the options for mentor program purposes that make the most sense for our beginning teachers and local needs as a district? (See elsewhere in this category for the list of options)

B. Which combination of purposes will address the needs we have identified?

C. Permanence? Will our program's purposes:

• Be far-reaching and valid for a long time? (This requirees some foresight or psychic powers.)
• Be shorter term (2-3 years) and be expected to change over time as the program is established and evolves?
  • If the latter choice,
    • What changes do we expect to occur?
    • What time line do we expect those changes to follow?
    • How can we ensure that decisions at those later times are made in light of both our existing purposes and any emerging and different purposes?

D. Are the different purposes we have chosen for the induction program complimentary to each other, or counter to each other?

E. Do our mentor program purposes compliment the purposes of other improvement efforts and not conflict with those other purposes?

F. What components for our mentor program are necessary to accomplish our purposes?

• Recruitment and selection?
• Matching criteria and process?
• Defined roles and expectations for each party?
• A defined mentor-protege relationship?
• A defined mentoring process?
• Training for each party involved?
• On-going support and support groups for mentors? Proteges?
• A Mentor Program Coordinator and "Mentor of Mentors"
• Written program materials, handbooks, checklists etc.?
• Program evaluation? Formative to guide improvement? Summative to document impact?

G. Can several program components address the same purposes? (It is possible, but is that what you want?)

H. Given our purposes, who is to be mentored? Who should be the mentors?

I. What can we design into mentoring that will promote effective teaching & learning?

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Barry W. Sweeny, 26 W 413 Grand Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187, 630-668-2605, email at

Web site at http://www.teachermentors.com