College of Education Information & Resources for Mentor Teachers: Frequently Asked Questions

What am I supposed to do as a mentor? What does Pacific University expect from me?

   You will be contacted by your student's university supervisor for a meeting before the student actually starts teaching. This meeting will answer many of your questions and ensure that everyone has the same understandings about requirements. Initially, your student teacher will need to be introduced to other teachers and staff and oriented to the school. Please create a work area for your student with a desk. Your student teacher may begin teaching right away or may be easing into teaching duties. In addition, it's important that regular meeting times be scheduled between you and your student teacher to ensure that planning and feedback will take place on a regular basis. These are all informational pieces that will be covered in that intial meeting. Pacific University expects mentors to observe and critique our teaching candidates on a regular basis, and participate in the midterm evaluation conference and summary evaluation conference. We also expect that mentors will write a letter of recommendation for their student teacher, if asked. We have suggestions for that letter in the Mentor Teacher Handbook.

How do I get started?

   The most important thing you can do is help your student teacher get oriented to your school and to your classroom. There is a list on page 16 of the Mentor Teacher Handbook with suggestions on how to do that and the areas in which our teacher candidates need to familiarize themselves.

Do I stay in the classroom with my student teacher?

   This is something you have to determine. You are ultimately responsible for what happens in your class, so you should not leave until you are confident of your student teacher's ability to handle the class. In all cases, we expect you will be onsite and easily accessible. You certainly may stay in the classroom if you prefer. Your building or district may have specific policies regarding this, and we would expect you to follow those policies. For a related issue, please see page 23 of the Mentor Teacher Handbook about using student teachers as substitutes.

What goes into a letter of recommendation?

   Basically, a letter of recommendation is an introduction of a new teacher to a hiring committee. The letter should give a clear picture of what the new teacher can do, and a positive, encouraging, specific letter will help those involved in the hiring more than general or negative letters. Describing specific situations or learning activities may help highlight the student's strengths. For more suggestions, please see page 25 in the Mentor Teacher Handbook.

My student teacher just (insert your huge problem here). What should I do now?

   We rarely have huge problems to deal with, but occasionally there is a problem that needs special attention. If there are safety issues involved, please follow your building and/or district policy. In addition, please notify the student teacher supervisor and strand coordinator as soon as possible. Here is our directory with names, areas of responsibility, and email addresses.

   If it isn't an issue of safety, but special attention needs to be given to the situation, you have a number of options: