The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents believes that the implementation of an effective, relevant, diverse, and responsive mentoring program is critical to support the work and success of educational leaders that are new to the role of School Superintendent. To address this critical area of professional development, IAPSS has developed a program that is grounded in research-based best practice, relationship-based mentor/mentee partnership, skills development, thoughtful placement of mentors, and connected and ongoing communication. The core foundation of the IAPSS Mentor Program is centered on supporting the mentee with a collaborative professional relationship that elevates a first-year Superintendent from the status of “surviving” to the professional competency level of “thriving.”
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Mentor candidates are thoughtfully recruited and trained to meet or exceed the expectations of the program.
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Training hours will be executed by a certified trainer.
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Mentors and Mentees are matched considering the following:
-Assessment of the mentee’s potential areas of needed support and enhancement
-Placement based on regional proximity between mentor and mentee
-Consideration of the mentee’s work environment
-Mentor’s demonstrated areas of professional experience
-Unique circumstances or anticipated challenges
-Multi-asset skill set development
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The Mentor/Mentee ratio for this program is a maximum of one mentor to two mentees.
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-A minimum of six in-person visits to the mentee’s corporation.
-A minimum of weekly telephonic or electronic message contact for the first six months, followed by a minimum of monthly telephonic or electronic message contracts during the second six months.
-The mentor will be accessible for the mentee to request assistance 24/7 during the length of the mentor/mentee partnership.
-The mentor will respond to all mentee communication within 24 hours of initial contact
-The mentor (when not breaking confidentiality) will contact IAPSS Executive Director if additional support services or professional support is needed during the length of the mentor/mentee partnership.
-Participants will comply with all established reporting requirements, to include but not limited to verification of contact hours, phone/message logs, post participation survey, and program evaluation matrix documents.
-Ongoing assessment and review of mentee professional needs or desired skills enhancement
-Integration of compliance expectations for Indiana specifics educational laws and fiscal requirements
-Integration of Superintendent/ School Board of Trustees relationship skill set
-Integration of Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) regulations, guidelines, and operational procedures
-Integration of a broader understanding of the Indiana legislative process
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The Survive to Thrive Mentor Program is overseen and supported by the Program Coordinator and IAPSS Executive Director.
Field Supervisors will be assigned to support the mentor/mentee partnership. Field Supervisors will provide the following supports:
-Thoughtful selection of experienced mentors
-Monitoring mentor engagement
-Monitoring mentee engagement
-Bi-annual in-person site visits at mentee work site
-Monthly telephonic or electronic message communication with mentors
-Monthly status report of mentor/mentee engagement provided to the Program Coordinator who will communicate progress to the IAPSS Executive Director
