As more and more good teachers are leaving the profession out of frustration and lack of guidance, mentoring may be the key ingredient to retaining new teachers, and helping them become more effective. This highly interactive, step-by-step method for implementing and evaluating mentor programs and relationships uncovers the many benefits to both the mentor and the protégé. Key features of the book include: Planning and implementing a mentor program; Developing benchmarks to measure the progress of the plan; Using mentors for veteran teachers and new teachers alike; Finding good mentor-protégé matches; Assessing and evaluating a successful mentor program. This strategy-based guide asserts that a mentor relationship is one between peers. It effectively illustrates how fellow teachers can listen to one another and share their common experiences and unique insights to foster mutual job satisfaction.

Acknowledgments -- Mentoring: A Welcome Teaching Assistant -- 2. Initial Program Development -- 3. What Is Our Purpose? -- 4. Who Is a Mentor? -- 5. Preparing People to Serve as Mentors -- 6. Matching Mentors and Proteges -- 7. What Do Mentors Do? -- 8. Mentoring for Beginning Teachers -- 9. Mentoring for Veterans -- 10. Did the Mentoring Program Work? -- 11. Moving Beyond Starting Your Mentoring Program -- Resource A: Mentoring Quiz Answers -- Resource B: Action Panning Form -- Suggested Readings -- Index.