• ADDENDUM C of the Elgin Agreement

    Pages 45-46

    Teacher Mentor Program (TMP)


    1. Teacher Mentor Program:

    Mission


    The Teacher Mentor Program leverages the expertise of seasoned certified staff members for the purpose of providing support to new staff members in U-46 through developing trusting relationships, collaborative communities, enhancing professional satisfaction, and offering engaging professional growth and reflection opportunities designed to positively impact student learning.

    Vision

    The Teacher Mentor Program provides a robust induction program leading to the retention of high-quality teachers and their ongoing development, which results in student achievement.


    2. Teacher Leader(s) for the TMP:

    The Teacher Leaders for the TMP will be continued on a yearly basis as a collective bargaining unit position reporting to Teacher Effectiveness Initiatives. The Teacher
    Leaders of the TMP serve to support the effective functioning of the Teacher Mentor Program. The Teacher Leader(s)’s role may include: facilitating the mentor-mentee matching process, supporting full-time mentor specialists, 1:1 mentors and mentees as well as providing ongoing professional learning opportunities for TMP participants. The position will be funded on a basis as determined by the District, with the ETA making a contribution to the TMP on an annual basis.


    3. Oversight Committee:


    The TMP Oversight Committee will be co-chaired by representatives of the ETA and District Administration. The TMP Oversight Committee will consist of six ETA members, appointed by the ETA, and six District designees. The Committee’s duties will include matching mentors with new and experienced new certified staff members, monitoring of the TMP program, and performing other duties as assigned by the Teacher Leader(s). The committee will minimally meet monthly, but will meet more often if necessary, in order to complete its tasks. The committee shall elect its chairperson(s) and secretary. Committee members will receive professional credits if the member attends TMP Oversight Committee meetings, with the allowance of being permitted to miss one meeting per semester.

    4. Expectations, Credit and Compensation for Mentors and Mentees:

    All new hires to the District will be required to participate in the Teacher Mentor Program and shall be paid at the hourly rate for their attendance at quarterly meetings. Each mentor/mentee team will be provided with three (3) days of released time per year while participating in the program or a prorated portion over a shorter period of time as the program requires. In addition, each team will be provided with release time for one (1) workshop. Stipends to mentors for each mentor/mentee relationship shall be paid at $1,000 per year. The stipend includes attendance by the mentor at quarterly meetings and completion of mentor’s requirements. The stipend is paid at the end of the school year and accounts for all four quarters of participation as a mentor in the TMP ($250 per quarter). If a mentor misses a portion of the mentor year due to late start or leave of absence, the mentor will be paid only for those quarters they served as mentor. A mentor who misses a quarter meeting and does not make up the missed session will not receive the associated quarterly stipend. If the mentor does not complete the requirements for the TMP program by the end of the year, then they will not receive the 14 stipend for the fourth quarter.