Chariho Regional School District

Standards: The Chariho Teacher Mentor Program reflects the Rhode Island Mentor Program standards. The program is led by a program committee comprised of the program coordinator, an administrator, a parent, and teachers representing both mentors and mentees. Mentors provide comprehensive professional support for newly hired teachers. (See Mentor Qualifications link.)
Mentees: Every teacher hired in the Chariho Regional School District is assigned a mentor for at least the first year of teaching at Chariho. All newly hired teachers (mentees) and their mentors attend after-school mentor-mentee focus sessions (see calendar of dates.) They also maintain logs of the meetings they schedule together (download a log as a pdf file.) Occasionally, the district may assign a mentor to a teacher for more than one year.
Program Requirements: Newly hired teachers who are new to the profession ("newbies") and those who are "veterans" are held to different requirements within the program. "Newbies" and their mentors are required to participate in all mentor-mentee focus sessions and meet together at least weekly for an hour. "Veterans" and their mentors are required to participate in two mandatory mentor-mentee focus sessions and at least one other session of their choice. They are to meet at least bi-weekly for an hour. All mentors and mentees must maintain a log of their weekly or bi-weekly meetings together. These logs will be collected periodically.
Additional Opportunities: New teachers and their mentors are required to observe one another's classes for the purposes of constructive feedback and to assist in the development of a work plan. Substitute teachers will be provided. Please contact the Program Coordinator for details and arrangements.
Program Communication: Communication about the program throughout the year is through email and the program website. Mentors and mentees should read email and consult the website for information and possible changes (e.g., snow cancellation). All questions, comments, and suggestions should be made to the District Teacher Mentor Program Coordinator.
Evaluation: The program is evaluated through forms completed by participants after mentor-mentee focus sessions; through verbal, email, and other informal feedback; an end-of-the-year evaluation; the program committee's reflective analysis of the program; and through the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Mentor Application Process: Teachers become mentors through an application process. Mentors are required to be trained (and updated every three years) and receive a stipend for their work. Training is offered every year early summer. Mentors who complete the training agree to make themselves available as a mentor for a period of three years. Completion of mentor training does not guarantee a mentee assignment. Mentors are assigned to mentees based on accepted best practice for mentor programs. Mentor assignments are made in August in consultation with the Superintendent, the Assistant Superintendent, a union representative, and the Program Coordinator. All mentors are required to attend the appropriate portion of the New Teacher Orientation Days. Qualifications of a Mentor RI Mentor Program Standards
District Professional Development RI Professional Teacher Standards
Mentor Program Resources Meeting Log for Mentees Meeting Log for Mentors