Bridges to Success Mentoring Overview

Teaching Research  
Western Oregon University  
(503) 838-8838  
click to close

Mentoring is one of the three core components of the Bridges to Success model. Other components include Orientation Activities and Ongoing Professional Development. The mentor relationship provides the early career special educator with both the technical and emotional support needed to feel confident and effective in their new profession.

What is Mentoring?

Mentors are guides. They lead us along the journey of our lives. We trust them because they have been there before. They embody our hopes, cast light on the way ahead, interpret unexpected delights along the way. (Daloz, 1986)

An effective mentor program is designed to:

  • provide on-going support and assistance to imnprove the teaching performance of early career educators
  • Increase the retention of early career educators during the first three years
  • Promote the personal and professional well-being of early career educators.

Why is Mentoring Important?

Providing on-going support for early career educators during the three-year induction periosd is of critical importance to the retention of special educators. The mentoring component is designed to provide mentor teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively mentor an early career teacher.

The Mentoring Component includes:

  • Guidelines for the selection of mentor teachers
  • Initial Mentor Training
  • The Mentor/Early Career Teacher Agreement
  • On-going Mentor Training
Click here for mentor information and materials.

Home