Procedure 5345 - Beginning Teacher Assistance Program

In compliance with rules and regulations issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the district assures that: 

  1. The mentor teacher shall be paid a mentor teacher stipend as established by SPI. 
  2. The beginning teacher shall be paid a beginning teacher stipend as established by SPI. 
  3. The mentor teacher shall attend and shall be reimbursed by the district for navel expenses for attendance at the SPI sponsored mentor teacher workshop. 
  4. The beginning teacher shall attend and shall be reimbursed by the district for travel expenses for one day of attendance at the SPI sponsored mentor teacher workshop. 
  5. The mentor teacher shall be released from classroom teaching responsibilities in order to observe and assist the beginning teacher in the classroom. 
  6. The mentor teacher and the beginning teacher shall be released from classroom teaching responsibilities in order to jointly observe and evaluate teaching situations. 
  7. The total release time from classroom teaching (6) and (7) shall be at least thirty-six scheduled instructional hours per school year. 
  8. The mentor teacher and the beginning teacher shall complete and forward to the Superintendent of Public Instruction such evaluation reports of the beginning teacher assistance program as requested by SPI. 

Selection of participants: 

1. Beginning teachers will be nominated for the program by the building principal or appropriate supervisor. A "beginning teacher" shall mean a certificated teacher with fewer than 90 consecutive days of classroom teacher experience in either a public or private school in any grade, kindergarten through grade 12, and who is employed by the district for 90 consecutive days or more to serve primarily as a classroom teacher. 
2. Qualified individuals interested in becoming mentor teachers should make application to their supervisor or building principal prior to the end of school. Principals or supervisors may nominate additional individuals for participation. A mentor teacher should 
A. teach in the same major or related area of concentration as that of the beginning teacher and hold a major or minor in that field; 
B. have taught successfully for not less than three full years including at least one year in the district; 
C. demonstrate effective teaching skills; 
D. have a good understanding and perspective of district and building policies, procedures, and programs; 
3. Selection of mentor teachers shall be made by the building principal and a representative from the work site appointed by the president of the Richland Education Association. Whenever a beginning teacher is nominated by a building principal or supervisor, the district shall notify the Association of that nomination. The Association shall then immediately appoint a representative from the work site for the selection process. In the event the building principal and Association representative do not agree upon the selection of a mentor teacher, then the parties shall have the matter reviewed jointly by the superintendent or designee and the Association president for the final disposition. 
4. Participation in the beginning teacher assistance program shall be voluntary. 

Adoption:

Adopted: January 10, 1989