Mentor Teacher Data Mentor Teacher Data Mining ResultsMining Results

30 mentors agreed that this 30 mentors agreed that this program had impacted their program had impacted their classroom, and 31 felt that it classroom, and 31 felt that it somewhat made an impact.somewhat made an impact.

The responses of Yes and Somewhat showed a theme of The responses of Yes and Somewhat showed a theme of taking the ideas and enthusiasm of the mentees, and using taking the ideas and enthusiasm of the mentees, and using it to reflect on their own practices. Teachers used words it to reflect on their own practices. Teachers used words like… widened my persepectives, revitalized my own like… widened my persepectives, revitalized my own practice, impacted, motivated, greater appreciation, I practice, impacted, motivated, greater appreciation, I examined my own practice, and … I want to walk the talk. examined my own practice, and … I want to walk the talk. The mentors who answered the question with Yes or The mentors who answered the question with Yes or Somewhat all had an underlying theme of appearing to be Somewhat all had an underlying theme of appearing to be open-minded, receptive to new ideas, and excited about open-minded, receptive to new ideas, and excited about revitalizing their classrooms and their own teaching. They revitalizing their classrooms and their own teaching. They looked upon this as not only a teaching and mentoring looked upon this as not only a teaching and mentoring experience, but also as a learning experience. They took on experience, but also as a learning experience. They took on dual roles and were not afraid to say that they didn’t always dual roles and were not afraid to say that they didn’t always have all the answers and were willing to be flexible.have all the answers and were willing to be flexible.

Only 10 mentors stated that this Only 10 mentors stated that this program had no impact on their program had no impact on their

classroom.classroom.

The No group responded that the lack and type of The No group responded that the lack and type of technology available was a barrier in some of their technology available was a barrier in some of their relationships. Lack of face to face encounters with relationships. Lack of face to face encounters with the mentee were detrimental to the conversation as the mentee were detrimental to the conversation as a level of comfort with that type of communication a level of comfort with that type of communication was lacking on the part of the mentor. Responses was lacking on the part of the mentor. Responses were varied and showed no real general pattern of were varied and showed no real general pattern of reasoning. Some reasoning appeared not in sync reasoning. Some reasoning appeared not in sync with the desired goals of the program, such as with the desired goals of the program, such as wanting a mentee to help them run a Smart board, wanting a mentee to help them run a Smart board, not teaching this year, as they are on a fellowship, not teaching this year, as they are on a fellowship, not showing interest in the mentees program (RTI) not showing interest in the mentees program (RTI) as it didn’t coincide with programs they were using, as it didn’t coincide with programs they were using, the mentor felt that they had taught for so many the mentor felt that they had taught for so many years (25) that a mentee couldn’t change their years (25) that a mentee couldn’t change their practice and the grade levels didn’t coincide, so the practice and the grade levels didn’t coincide, so the mentor felt that the information shared was not mentor felt that the information shared was not usable for them.usable for them.

The following suggestions were The following suggestions were given to help improve the given to help improve the

mentor/mentee program in the mentor/mentee program in the future…future…

Face – to - Face meetings Face – to - Face meetings would be very beneficial. would be very beneficial.

Firm guidelines for Firm guidelines for discussion and discussion and assignments would also be assignments would also be extremely helpful. extremely helpful.

Match mentors and Match mentors and mentees within content mentees within content areas.areas.

Provide a calendar of long Provide a calendar of long range assignments along range assignments along with a syllabus.with a syllabus.