Expectations+for+Mentors

The overarching role of Mentor Principals is to help NELA Fellows “live their learning” during their field experiences and internship by doing the following:


 * Serving as a model demonstrating effective leadership and management behaviors and create a climate that facilitates success for the intern.
 * Facilitating “hands on” experiences integrated with the program expectations. These experiences should push Fellows beyond their comfort level and prompt them to meet the highest of standards for the school and the NELA program.
 * Being expert leaders who are reflective and willing to help guide the Fellows towards a greater understanding of how to lead in an educational setting.
 * Continually seeking improved practice for themselves, their staff, their students, and the aspiring principal (NELA Fellow).

The NELA Principal Mentor agrees to:

> //**As part of the unique opportunities offered by the NELA internship, principal mentors should expect Fellows to be out of the school building at least 2 days every week. **//
 * 1) Commit sufficient time to work with the Fellow and support their professional development including communicating regularly about the intern's progress (Through regularly scheduled weekly meetings with the Fellow, every-other week conversation or meeting with the NELA Coach and as needed with the NELA Directors).
 * 2) In collaboration with the NELA Coach, help the Fellow achieve the goals established within their Individualized Leadership Learning Plan.
 * 3) Provide the Fellow with frequent feedback and guidance including participation in both formative and summative assessment conferences of the intern’s performance in cooperation with the NELA Coach.
 * 4) Develop a schedule with the Fellow to ensure that they have the opportunity to attend their weekly academic classes, specialized trainings, and other various NELA activities through the year. P**rincipal mentors should expect Fellows to be out of the school building at least 2 days every week.**
 * 5) Participate in joint observations of teaching and debrief with the Fellow on teaching practices observed.
 * 6) Engage in continuous professional development with the Fellow through their participation in the Distinguished Leaders in Practice Program (See Calendar for dates).
 * 7) Provide Fellow with the access to information, activities, and events that help inform and immerse into the life of a school principal.
 * 8) Review the NELA expectations and NELA course syllabi with the candidate every semester.
 * 9) Review, evaluate and approve the Fellow’s Individual Leadership Plan (ILP) at the beginning of the school year and after the first semester.
 * 10) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Complete online evaluation reports to track Fellow’s progress
 * 11) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Introduce Fellows to all functional areas of a school, providing them with opportunities to observe how experienced school administrators address challenges within the school.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">NELA Fellows will need to monitor their experiences to gain understanding and proficiency in the North Carolina School Executive Standards. Below are examples of recommended activities and areas of focus:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Build a Professional Learning Community and/or design and lead professional development experiences based on staff needs;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Lead difficult/challenging conversations;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Have access to data collection (through staff interviews, surveys, and observations)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Interview of administrators, teachers, staff and others in the building and district
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Disaggregate data, identify trends, set specific learning goals for students (or subsets of students) and present data to different stakeholders (teachers, parents, school board, community);
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Lead a school-wide culture initiative to get all staff to welcome and use data in planning and decision-making;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Develop strategies/action steps based on data analysis
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Lead a team in using standards to align curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessments;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Develop a school-wide schedule that maximizes learning time;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Lead initiative to increase parental and community involvement/outreach/communication;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Participate in hiring process and lead orientation activity for new staff;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Participate in budget planning and alignment of budget to maximize teaching and learning opportunities;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Regularly observe and provide feedback to teachers in different career stages and levels of effectiveness (weekly observations/evaluations are a NELA Fellow requirement).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Participate in the teacher evaluation cycle.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Observe teacher plan of action development and meeting with the teacher on directive action.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Participate in student discipline conferences.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Service on committees (chairing them if possible)


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Additional Activities may include: **


 * * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Special Education IEP Conferences
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Textbooks - Selection, ordering, receipt, and storage
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Student Services
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Building and Grounds
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">School Budget
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Supplies- Ordering, receipt, and distribution
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Student Testing
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Transportation - Buses, drivers
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Child Nutrition: Cafeteria || * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Technology and Media
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Athletics
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">School Board Meetings
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Central Office Services
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">School safety
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Staff recognition program
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">School Improvement Plan
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Program Evaluation/assessment
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey ||