Expectations of the Secondary Site Mentor

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Expectations of the Secondary Site Mentor

The responsibilities listed below are those expected of Secondary Site Mentors across all program areas in the Department of Education.  Program areas may also provide guidelines to Secondary Site Mentors that are specific to the needs of the particular content or licensure area.

All mid-term and final evaluation forms, and honorarium forms can be found in the educational administrative intern’s file folder.

It is the intern’s responsibility, along with the Primary Site Supervisor, to arrange a meeting with you before his/her first day.

Orient the intern to the district

• Culture of the schools, faculty, and district
• Layout of the school facilities in context within the district sites
• Organization of district programs
• School and district policies, handbooks, and guidelines
• Use of computer systems, student records and attendance systems, and other relevant technology district-wide
• Staff responsibilities at the district level
• Support services, including social emotional supports, food services, transportation system, and custodial/maintenance operations
• School schedules
• District calendar
• Nature of student population
• Safety issues and procedures, including district crisis plans
• Partnerships and special projects unique to the district
• District’s view on global competitiveness and its role in preparing global students

Orient the intern to the school

• Physical site and layout
• Nature of student population
• Norms and rules
• Daily routines and special events
• Classroom and building management policies
• Curricular goals, materials, and assessment results from previous year
• Use of texts, technology, curricula materials
• Share your personal style for management and why it works
• Management approaches
• Evaluation procedures
• Instructional support services and health care procedures
• School’s focus on transition to other levels of education
• School’s goals in preparing students to be competitive in global economy

Plan with the intern for the internship experience

• Determine short range plans and schedule for specific administrative responsibilities
• Clarify planning expectations and procedures
• Determine specific administrative responsibilities including what competency areas the intern will take on first, second, etc.
• Determine which duties of the Secondary Site Mentor will be assigned
• During the first few days involve the intern in general school and/or district duties
• Introduce the intern to appropriate staff and students as soon as possible
• Schedule regular conference times with the intern
• Make arrangements for supervisory observations and feedback
• Identify additional responsibilities within the school program
• Focus on transitions prior to the secondary site and transitions from the secondary site

Review and provide feedback about project and duty plans prior to implementation

• Help the administrative intern clarify and think through their duties and projects
• Help the administrative intern avoid pitfalls of poorly planned projects
• Help the administrative intern reflect on goals and expectations
• Check administrative intern’s plans on a daily/weekly basis

Observe intern experience on a regular basis and provide feedback

• Meet with the intern prior to the observation to discuss the projects
• Provide descriptions that permit the intern to reflect on his/her performance and improve upon it
• Observe the intern regularly (both formally scheduled observations as well as informal observations)
• Provide regular, informal feedback in written and oral form
• Help the intern develop goals and strategies based on the feedback

Evaluate the performance of the intern

• Help the intern understand the Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice for Administrators
• Conduct weekly conference in which the intern’s performance is reviewed and evaluated in terms of the standards
• Complete the mid-term evaluation form which is on line.  Discuss the evaluation with the intern and the University supervisor, as well as the Primary Coordinating Supervisor placement.
• Request or attend intern case conferences when necessary
• Write a letter of recommendation for the intern’s credential file when requested by the intern
• Complete final evaluation form.