Frequently Asked Questions
Updated May, 2008

Which teachers must have a mentor assigned to them for support of their professional development?  Top | Back to FAQs

All novice teachers are to be mentored.

What is the definition of a “novice teacher”?  Top | Back to FAQs

A novice teacher is any teacher having less than one (1) school year of public school, or accredited private school, classroom teaching experience.

If a district hires a new teacher who has a license from another state, must he/she be mentored?  Top | Back to FAQs

The qualifier is whether or not the teacher has less than one (1) year of classroom teaching experience. If not, then yes the teacher must be mentored.

Must all mentors be certified in the Arkansas Mentoring Model?  Top | Back to FAQs

Yes.  Mentors must be trained and certified before they are assigned to a novice teacher.

Who can be a mentor?  Top | Back to FAQs

Mentors are master teachers with three or more years of successful teaching experience who have been trained and certified in the Arkansas Mentoring Model.  Further information on becoming a mentor is available from each school building principal or school district project director.

Can administrators be mentors for novice teachers?  Top | Back to FAQs

No. Anyone involved in the evaluation of teachers for employment decisions cannot serve as a mentor.

Can an administrator from another building act as a mentor for a novice teacher in my building?  Top | Back to FAQs

No.  For greater accessibility, mentors should be on-site in the same physical facility where the novice teacher is located.

Can a high school teacher mentor an elementary school teacher or vice versa?  Top | Back to FAQs

Theoretically, this is possible due to the generic nature of the Arkansas Mentoring Model.  However, the bigger issue is accessibility and the mentor’s ability to meet and provide focused feedback to the novice teacher on a regular, weekly basis.

What is Front-end Mentoring?

First-year Non-Traditional Licensure Program novice teachers and their assigned mentors participate in Front-end Mentoring activities that are outlined in the guidebook that each district's project director receives (and distributes to NTLP novice teacher/mentor pairs). The guidebook consists of activities for the pair to conduct together, ultimately producing a binder that contains district and building contact information along with building rules and procedures that will serve as a resource for the novice teacher.

Can a mentor be assigned more than one novice teacher?  Top | Back to FAQs

No. The mentor-novice teacher pair should be one-on-one.

How can mentors be trained in my school district?  Top | Back to FAQs

Information about scheduled Arkansas Mentoring Model Trainings can be obtained from the district's Educational Service Cooperative.

How are mentors compensated for mentoring a novice teacher?  Top | Back to FAQs

Mentors receive a stipend of $600 per semester, or $1200 per school year. Mentors assigned to first year NTLP novice teachers receive an additional $200 as compensation for Front-end Mentoring. From the mentor’s money, the district may deduct taxes and the mentor’s regular retirement contribution. The district may NOT take the district benefit match out of these funds. Districts must absorb this cost. Districts should offer mentor pay as a stipend payable by semester. Mentors receive 24 hours of professional development credit for completing the Arkansas Mentor Training. In addition, mentors receive 30 hours of professional development credit for being a mentor for one year.

Additionally, mentors have the distinction of being identified as master teachers with the skills and expertise to mentor and guide novice educators in the teaching profession. Mentors have reported the additional benefit of improving and fine-tuning their own instructional and professional skills as a result of the mentoring experience.

How much time is involved in the mentoring process?  Top | Back to FAQs

Districts are required to assist in scheduling two hours every two weeks for a mentor and novice teacher to work together, face-to-face. The Mentor/Novice Teacher Mentoring Log is used to record this time.

This face-to-face contact can be accomplished through creative scheduling, use of instructional aides, roving substitute teachers, or use of an occasional common planning period, etc.

Mentors are required to log any time above the two hours every two weeks in which they are engaged in mentoring support of the novice teacher. This may include such activities as:

• phone calls
• attending workshops together
• conversations with the novice teacher before or after school hours
• time a mentor spends seeking resources for the novice teacher’s benefit
• time used to write up formative observation feedback for the novice teacher, etc.

If the mentor was trained within the year, he/she may log the 24 hours of initial training or time spent in any subsequent recalibration meeting. Typically, a mentor is expected to spend 25 hours per semester in activities that support the novice teacher. The Mentor Additional Time Form is used to record these additional hours.

Do the mentor and/or novice teacher submit any of the induction recording forms to the Arkansas Department of Education?  Top | Back to FAQs

No.

What do mentors and novice teachers do with the forms associated with induction?  Top | Back to FAQs

Mentors are required to submit to the district’s project director:

• the Mentor/Novice Teacher Mentoring Log on the first day of each month
• the Mentor Additional Time Form by the last day of each semester
• the novice’s Professional Growth Plan and
• all observation documents.

At the end of the school year the project director is to send the time logs to the district bookkeeper and offer the Professional Growth Plan and observation documents to the novice teacher. If the novice teacher does not take the forms they are to be disposed of (shredded).

The only time it is appropriate for the mentor to share information about a novice teacher with an administrator is if students are at physical or psychological risk due to the novice teacher’s actions or inaction.

Which forms are districts required to send to the Arkansas Department of Education?  Top | Back to FAQs

Districts are to submit:

• the School District Induction Assurances Form by September 15
• the Induction Pairing Form by September 15
• the End-of-the-Year Budget Report Form by June 30

For how many years will a novice teacher receive mentoring support?  Top | Back to FAQs

All novice teachers will receive mentoring support for one (1) full school year. Non-traditional novice teachers will be mentored for an additional year totaling two (2) full school years. If the novice teacher is unsuccessful with the Praxis III Performance Assessment he/she will be mentored for an additional school year.

When will the school district receive funding for the teachers who must have mentors in August?  Top | Back to FAQs

Funding is authorized as soon as districts properly submit the appropriate forms (See above.) The forms should be faxed (501-682-5118) no later than September 15 for the current school year.

How does the district disburse the funds for novice teacher support and professional development?  Top | Back to FAQs

The funding ($800 per school year) is held in trust by the district for the direct support of the novice teacher’s professional growth, and is disbursed as needed by the novice teacher according to district purchasing guidelines. (Refer to Induction Allowable Expenditures). No administrative or indirect costs may be paid from these funds.

Do the same guidelines apply to Non-Traditional Licensure Program (NTLP) Teachers?   Top | Back to FAQs

Generally, yes.  All NTLP teachers hired in school districts must be assigned a certified Pathwise mentor.  Project directors will use the same reporting forms for both NTLP and traditionally trained teachers.

First-year NTLP teachers are given added support as described in the front-end mentoring guidebook.

Can novice teachers pay for teacher preparation courses or teacher preparation program fees out of the support money held by the District for their professional development?  Top | Back to FAQs

No.

Can school districts have all licensed teachers trained in the Pathwise Mentoring Model?  Top | Back to FAQs

Due to the excellent opportunity for professional development that Mentor Training offers to its participants, the ADE recommends that school districts train all their licensed personnel, both teachers and administrators, in the model. In this case, the entire staff is trained for two and a half days and on the second half of the third day only those who are qualified and express a desire to become a mentor actually complete the certification process. This service is offered by ADE at no cost to the school districts. Funds are available to cover stipends and/or substitute teachers. At a minimum, districts should have a pool of 2-3 trained mentors per school building to assign to novice teachers as they are hired.