summer 2000 teacher mentor training

Mentors were selected from four separate local schools to participate in the Urban IMPACT Project's summer 2000 training session. Participants from Dalewood Middle, Hardy Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, and Normal Park Elementary Schools were engaged in a two-day workshop: "Raising the Bar for teacher performance and student achievement in high needs schools: Mentoring, peer coaching, and instructional leadership.

The workshops were led by Dr. Mary Ann Blank, Dr. Cheryl Kershaw, and Mrs. Becky Ashe from The University of Tennessee, Dr. Bonnie Warren of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Dr. Elizabeth Vaughn-Neely of the Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (pictured above).

Through the workshop, participants were trained to mentor new teachers and coach them through the difficult first years of their demanding positions. Lessons were delivered on handling national, state, and district standards; for evaluating and preparing new teachers for urban community and cultural issues, needs, and expectations; for aiding new teachers in overcoming the environmental difficulties of urban schools; for helping new teachers in recognizing and understanding differences in communication, relationships, and expectations in urban school culture; for coaching protégé teachers in the practical facets of urban education, from classroom management and collecting classroom supplies to reading the effectiveness of lessons by identifying student reaction behaviors; and for assisting new teachers with personal issues of self-evaluation.

The trained mentors will combine their previous experience and the methods discussed and role-played to serve as leaders, role-models, coaches, liasons, and supporters for their protégé teachers.