Mentors

One of the great aspects of the FasTrack Initiative is the use of a Teacher Mentor Support System for our student teachers. Each student is required to choose a secondary teacher mentor currently teaching in a public school within their content area with at least three years experience to support them throughout their FasTrack learning experience.

The mentor teacher must be licensed in the area in which the student is seeking licensure. For instance, if student is seeking a K-6 license, the mentor needs to be licensed K-6. If they are seeking a 9-12 Chemistry license, the mentor needs a 9-12 Chemistry license. If they are seeking a K-12 SPED license, the mentor needs that license.The Teacher’s license number is also needed.   CLICK HERE to view our online tutorial for finding a teacher mentor.

We are looking for teacher mentor and principal teams to give the student support during the semester. The principal will have no responsibilities other than to sign the application and participate in one short interview during their Practicum.  Both the mentor and the principal will be considered part of our team.

The Teacher Mentor Responsibilities are:

• Occasionally administer tests to student.

• Give us feedback with concerns or accomplishments of student's progress or questions about the program through participation in discussions via facebook.  An email to fastrack@bemidjistate.edu will always get to the right person for your questions or concerns apart from the open discussions.

• Provide, or assist in locating, observation and practicum venues for pre-service teacher candidate to practice teach. This might be in the Mentor's classroom or another classroom in the community. You do not arrange, you only suggest.  The hours of observations are usually 20 hours the first semester and 8-15 hours thereafter.  Student teaching is done in the student's final semester and we will assign the school and teacher supervisor.

• Act as a coach and mentor as needed, answering questions posed by the student regarding experiences with certain key elements of successful pedagogy such as how to motivate students, differentiating instruction, and the school's testing results.

• Your estimated commitment per semester, after the first semester, will vary between 2-4 hours per month.  Teacher Mentors will be paid $100 stipend per semester, per student, and can earn graduate credits or CEU's as requested.