Category II: Support and Mentoring Plan
Standard 6: Provision of Mentoring Experiences
The beginning administrator’s clear credential induction plan specifies provisions
for mentoring and support activities to be provided by one or more experienced colleagues
throughout the candidate’s enrollment in the credential program.
Rationale
The guidance, advice, feedback, and support provided by a more experienced colleague
assists the new administrator in the performance of his/her role and helps to facilitate
the development of professional norms. Sharing of the knowledge of practice needs
to be a planned part of the design for administrative induction. Candidates may experience
more than one mentor, and the primary mentor may change. The clear credential induction
plan should outline the ways in which mentor(s) will work with beginning administrators
to help them achieve their defined goals.
Factors to Consider
The following factors serve as a guide for initial program design and ongoing program
evaluation:
• The mentoring component of the clear credential induction plan is developed collaboratively
by the candidate, the university advisor, and the mentor administrator.
• Mentoring occurs on a regular, ongoing basis and reflects the candidate’s changing
needs and stage of professional development.
• Support and mentoring activities are appropriate to the individual needs of beginning
administrators and are provided in ways that encourage reflection, build trust, and
facilitate professional growth and development.
• Mentoring experiences may be individual or group activities, and may include, but
need not be limited to, orientation of new administrators, job-alike meetings, function/division
orientation, and mentoring.
• Activities are balanced to provide an awareness of a full range of administrative
responsibilities, address both site level and district level functions, and provide
experiences with diverse populations.
• The program meets other factors related to this standard of quality brought to the
attention of the team by the program sponsor.
As mentioned in earlier sections, utilizing the Descriptions of Practice (WestEd,
2003), the candidate completes a self-evaluation (see Appendix 13) and the district mentor completes a separate evaluation of the candidate during
the initial assessment period. These two persons meet to compare results and discuss
differences in their assessments and develop a preliminary induction plan. Then,
the candidate, the district mentor, and the university mentor meet to review the findings
of the assessment and complete the initial induction plan. All three sign off on
the assessment and the initial induction plan. If the district mentor is not an employee
of the district, then the district will be asked to provide input, either from the
direct supervisor of the candidate, or another person in the district familiar with
the candidate and the position requirements.
Although the assessment instrument is very complete with regard to the CPSELs, it
may not adequately describe particular practices or performance expectations necessary
for specific contexts. The assessment instrument contains space at the end to address
such practices and performance. Likewise, the induction plan reflects the findings
of the assessment. See Appendix 14 for a copy of the Induction Plan.
The induction plan is developed collaboratively between the candidate, the district
mentor, and the university mentor and includes space to indicate the timeline for
specific activities as well as the dates of mentoring sessions. In most cases, it
is expected that the district mentor will be in contact with the candidate at least
once a week. While a variety of communication formats is encouraged, face-to-face
meetings must take place on a periodic basis each semester. The need for adequate,
regular communication is included in the District Mentor Agreement (See Appendix 16). Additionally, the District Mentor Agreement includes a clause stipulating the need
for the district mentor to be available to the candidate in times of crisis or sensitive
situations.
Mentoring, as defined in this proposal and in our program, may occur in a variety
of settings and contexts. While on-site, on-the-job mentoring is highly desirable
and a priority for the program, other opportunities for mentoring are afforded candidates,
including, but not limited to, individual and group settings and activities, professional
development opportunities, and opportunities to engage in inquiry on a regular basis.
Professional mentoring may also occur through face-to-face conversation and activities,
telephone, email, or other media. The Mentoring Log is found in Appendix 15.
The final page of the induction plan is designed for any amendments to the initial
plan. This page may be copied and used as often as needed to change any part of the
plan. As with the original Induction Plan, all amendments are reviewed and given
written approval by the
candidate, district mentor, and university mentor. See the final page of the Induction
Plan in Appendix 14 for the amendments page. If the district mentor is not an employee of the district,
then the district will be asked to provide input, either from the direct supervisor
of the candidate, or another person in the district familiar with the candidate and
the position requirements.
The university mentors understand that one part of their role is to assist the candidate
in locating and contacting individuals with expertise in specific areas. However,
the university mentors also understand the need to guide the candidate to the district
mentor whenever possible. At the same time, the university mentor strives to maintain
open communication with the district mentor and the candidate and informs the district
mentor as appropriate of additional persons who will provide assistance to the candidate.
The university mentor will provide a list of additional resources as needed to assist
the candidate in succeeding in the current administrative assignment. However, the
university mentors also understand the need to guide the candidate to the district
mentor when possible. At the same time, the university mentor strives to maintain
open communication with the district mentor and the candidate and informs the district
mentor as appropriate of additional resources that will provide assistance to the
candidate.
In this manner, the support and mentoring activities are matched to the individual
needs of the beginning administrator and provided in ways that will build a trusting,
professional relationship between the mentor and administrator, will utilize inquiry
as a foundation, will encourage reflection, and will facilitate the professional growth
and development of the new administrator. As such, the activities will take place
on an individual basis, group activities, coursework, conferences, seminars, email
dialogues, and other types of activities with the overall objective of preparing the
new administrator for the full range of administrative responsibilities at both the
site and district level and with diverse student populations.
As in all program activities, ongoing evaluation, as well as an annual review, serves
to ensure that the program not only meets the standards as required by the CCTC, but
by the local school districts that depend on our program to prepare their educational
leaders.