Mentoring in Education Certificate

Quality teaching is critical to student success. It is also critical that organizations include assistance for educators in:

Facilitating reflective practice;
Understanding state mandates;
Establishing collaborative relationships premised on trust, collegiality and confidentiality;
Developing classroom observation skills;
Creating long-term professional development plans for educators; and
Understanding the academic, professional, and social needs of educators.

Educators of all levels can benefit from this assistance. However, new and beginning teachers/administrators need additional support in the form of mentors. Too often, mentors for student educators, teacher induction, administrators, and instructional coaching programs lack appropriate training to fully assist their mentees. While considered experts in teaching, they need additional knowledge and skills relevant for adult learning and program development.

The Mentoring in Education program addresses the professional development needs of teachers and administrators who wish to serve as mentors. A five-course sequence offered over 14 months provides a focus on best practices for adult learning, data-driven reflective conversations, formative assessment, and advocacy. Participants must have a minimum of three years experience as a successful classroom educator.

Required Courses – 15 credits
3

ED 5600 Leadership, Mentorship and the Brain

An in-depth exploration into the relationship between the brain, behavior, and leadership/mentorship. The content of the course focuses on working with adults to understand and change behavior, especially as it pertains to educators. The role of emotions in behavior is studied.
3

ED 5610 Research-Based Teaching and Learning

Participants will study research-based practices that support life-long learning. A common language will be developed to identify and articulate good instruction. The role of observation will be examined as part of a continuous cycle of improvement. Educator and learner perspectives will be emphasized.
3

ED 5620 Data and Collaborative Conversations

Participants will examine the challenges and choices inherent in the cycle of continuous improvement. Using the data from formative assessments, students will learn and apply techniques for engaging in individual and group "difficult conversations." Using a variety of data-analysis strategies, implementation plans will be developed.
3

ED 5630 Mentor Roles and Responsibilities

Participants will examine the many and varied roles and responsibilities of mentors, including the initial selection of mentors. In this individualized course, students will examine and apply the skills needed for different educator roles, including student teachers, new teachers, special education teachers, alternative 4 candidates, administrators, and paraprofessionals. Advocacy and evaluation of mentor programs will be studied.
3

ED 5640 Practicum in Mentoring

This is a supervised practicum experience in collaboration with institutions or agencies in New Hampshire. The purpose is to gain meaningful work experience through applying knowledge learning in previous coursework to the on-the-job situation.

Total for Mentoring in Education Certificate – 15 credits

You can also apply your Mentoring in Education certificate credits toward a self-designed master’s degree or Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies. Contact the program coordinator for additional information.

Annual Mentor Camp

The purpose of this camp is to connect current and future mentors from across the state for three days of intensive work relating current issues and trends to their programs. The Mentor Camp will focus on the development of state-wide awareness of current practice, identifying current best practices, and program sustainability plans.