Effective support that focuses on curriculum and technology integration at the school site by a trainer and mentors with support of a coach. Support can be one-on-one, in small groups, by grade-level, by department, or by skill level 

What is a mentor?

A technology mentor...

• may be a full- or part-time teacher.
• creates projects to use with students, model, and demonstrate to colleagues.
• may receive release time or stipends to develop a model project and prepare materials.
• may receive a stipend for advanced workshops.
• attends conferences and brings back information to share with colleagues.
• assists trainer during workshops.
• provides support for colleagues during the school day.
• answers questions and helps teachers develop technology projects.

Scenario
Why be a Grade-Level or Subject Area Mentors
Ideas for Reimbursement

Scenario

Alex is a technology mentor teacher. He has been teaching for many years and has recently started using technology in his classroom. He has some good ideas on how to use the technology but he is not an expert on how to use all the technology tools to enhance the curriculum for his students. Alex is eager and motivated to learn how to use technology in his classroom. He has been selected as a grade level mentor at his school site, where he assists his peers when asked to do so on various technology use applications. Because he is a regular classroom teacher, he does not have a lot of time to work with his peers but merely answers general technology questions and gives general technology use ideas to his peers when he can. Alex is still learning how to use technology so he does not always have the answers to technology questions or issues that come up. Alex received a stipend to develop a project that focuses on a writing activity. He plans to implement it with his students, chronicle the process, and then share student examples with his students. The school is searching for more funding to provide release time for planning and support of a coach so Alex can increase his skills and develop a interdisciplinary project that others can use or adapt.

Why would a teacher want to be a grade-level or subject area mentor?

Most mentors use technology because they love it and see how it makes a difference in their students' learning. The school needs to give the mentor the resources they need to try innovative teaching strategies that use technology. Mentors need to be given the flexibility in their curriculum to take some risks and do project-based learning activities. These are the teachers we need to let fly and become the best they can become. Yet, because the mentors receive more resources and possibly time, the school will expect mentors to share results of the projects with their peers: what worked, what did not and why. It is also expected that mentors will want to provide support to the other teachers in the school. Mentors are the key to the school becoming a learning community.

How are they reimbursed?

Mentors may receive:

• a stipend for before and after-school support to other teachers.
• a stipend for any training they provide after-school.
• a stipend for planning time (one hour for every two hours of training).
• resources for projects they plan to do with students.
• release time to collaborate on projects.

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