Common use of Assignment of the Mentor Teacher Clause in Contracts

Assignment of the Mentor Teacher. Each probationary teacher shall be assigned a mentor teacher annually during the first three (3) years of the probationary teacher's employment as a teacher. The assignment of mentor teachers is the responsibility of the building in which the probationary teacher is employed and shall be accomplished through the building School Improvement Team (SIT). The purpose of the mentor assignment is to provide a peer who can offer assistance, resources, and information in a non-threatening collegial fashion. Consequently, both the probationary teacher and the mentor teacher need to be comfortable with the mentor assignment and may request an alternative assignment. The probationary teacher shall be assigned to one mentor teacher at a time unless the probationary teacher specifically requests more than one mentor or a change in mentors. The primary mentor teacher assignment shall be for one (1) year subject to review by the mentor teacher and the probationary teacher. The mentor teacher assignment may be renewed in succeeding years. The building School Improvement Team shall meet and recommend to the building principal the assignment of a primary mentor for each probationary teacher within two (2) weeks of the probationary teacher's employment. As the building School Improvement Team considers the assignment of mentor teachers, preference shall be given to assignments that match mentors and probationary teachers from the same building, grade levels, departments, and areas of certification. The building principal shall ultimately be responsible for the assignment of the mentor to the mentee. The District shall notify the Association of all mentor teacher/probationary teacher assignments.