As a teacher residency, MTR pairs each resident with a mentor teacher, and the resident serves and teaches in the mentor’s classroom for a full school year. Becoming a mentor teacher, opening your doors and your practice to MTR residents is a wonderful investment in the future of Memphis.
Mentors agree to:
- Support and guide the resident in the classroom
- Collaborate with the resident regarding curriculum, instruction, and assessment
- Actively model best practices in instruction
- Support the resident by completing formal observations
- Checking resident lesson plans weekly
- Examine and reflect on own classroom practice and student achievement with the resident
- Participate in ongoing mentor professional development
- Work with the resident during summer to plan for the fall and orient resident to school
- Play multiple roles in position as a mentor: teacher, coach, advocate, collaborator, facilitator, learner, assessor
- Provide feedback to MTR staff regarding program development, mentor-resident relationship, and resident progress
MTR Mentors:
- Teach at host schools with 3 or more years of teaching experience in a Memphis high-need school
- Have achieved a Level 3 or higher TEM or TAP score
- Hold a current license in their subject area
- Meet school/district requirements for student teaching supervisors
- Demonstrate a commitment to student achievement through their planning, instruction, classroom management, and evaluation of self and students
- Commit to hosting a resident for the entire school year
- Participate in several days of summer mentor training as well as some ongoing training throughout the year
- Quite often see improved student growth as a result of having a resident in their classroom.
As an MTR Mentor you will…
- Continue your own professional growth and development
- Impact the future of Memphis by training the next generation of educators
- Receive a $2,000 stipend
Applying to Become an MTR Mentor
If you teach in an MTR partner school, you are welcome to speak with your principal about the application process to become a mentor. Principals have information on starting the application process, and their approval is required in order to apply.
Once the mentor application is complete, each applicant will be contacted by the Residency Director to begin the selection process. The process includes:
- Mentor applicant observation by MTR staff member
- Mentor applicant interview with MTR staff member
Mentor and resident final matches are made in late spring when all residents have been selected and have passed their Praxis II Content Knowledge exam. Mentor applicants are notified at this time about whether a resident has been placed with them for the coming year.
Even though the formal application is not available until you are recommended by your principal, you can indicate interest here and we will follow up with your principal if we are in need of more mentors:
Effectiveness of Mentors
Recent research by Shelby County Schools demonstrates that MTR mentors have excellent scores, far exceeding non-mentor teachers in SCS. This research shows statistically significant differences between mentors and non-mentors on TVAAS, classroom observation scores, TEM professionalism, and student surveys (TRIPOD). In each case mentors scored higher than non-mentors. This shows that MTR is selecting excellent teachers to serve as mentors and that student achievement continues to be high with a resident in the classroom.
Resident Impact on Mentor Classrooms
A 2019 research study analyzes three residency programs looking for residency-year effects on student growth. The study shows that MTR residents have residency-year impacts on student growth even before they graduate and have their own classroom.
In this study, the average MTR mentor TVAAS index showed significant and sizable improvements during the year they host a resident when compared to a baseline of their own prior-year TVAAS. As is illustrated in the graphic, MTR recruits mentors with a baseline of higher than average student growth and this student growth typically improves significantly during the year they have a resident in their classroom.
As demonstrated here, a student in a classroom served by an MTR mentor and resident typically grows more than they would have in the same mentor teacher’s classroom if no resident had been present. Rather than being slowed down by the training happening in their classroom, it appears that students are propelled forward by the addition of a second teacher in their classroom.
Mentor FAQ
Are All Residents Qualified?
All residents hold a bachelor’s degree and have gone through an extensive selection process. Residents are not required to have an education background, but some residents have taken education courses in their undergraduate experience or completed an education degree. All residents are required to pass the Praxis II Content Knowledge exam for their content area prior to starting at MTR.
Is Having A Resident Like Having A Traditional Student Teacher?
A residency year is different from traditional student teaching. Residents are in a mentor teacher’s classroom every Monday through Thursday for an entire school year and complete graduate coursework on Fridays and Saturdays. Residents complete summer professional development alongside their mentor teacher, are present on the first day of school, and will have a gradual release of teaching expectations ultimately leading to approximately seven weeks of lead teaching spread over the year. Residents attend professional development, faculty meetings, and participate in school activities and meetings to the fullest extent possible.
What Does The Resident Do In The Classroom?
Residents will gradually take on teaching responsibility in the classroom. A gradual release of teaching expectations will be provided to each resident and mentor teacher. For example, elementary residents begin the year with duties like bathroom breaks, read alouds, and bellwork while secondary residents begin the year leading bellwork and circulating during independent practice. They then assume responsibility for specific subjects or class periods as it corresponds to the graduate coursework. Residents will complete seven weeks of lead teach throughout the year: one week after Thanksgiving, the first two weeks in January, the first two weeks after Spring Break, and the first two weeks in May. Lead teach involves the residents taking over all of the teaching load. The selected lead teach times allow the resident to have opportunities to practice resetting class culture and to develop a sense of shared authority in the classroom. Each resident plans in advance for the lead teach, and all lesson plans are approved by the mentor teacher. During lead teach, residents take lead responsibility for all aspects of teaching: teaching all day long, grading papers, tracking and analyzing data, completing attendance forms, filling out field trips forms, etc. Through lead teaching, each resident experiences and learns the many dynamics and skills of being a teacher.
What Type Of Coursework Do Residents Complete?
While residents are completing the internship requirement with a mentor teacher, they are also completing a Master of Urban Education (MUEd) degree program from Union University. The MUEd from Union University can only be earned through MTR; therefore, all interested residents must apply and interview through MTR. During the summer, residents complete courses that lay the groundwork for preparation in becoming a teacher. Through the school year, residents take courses in their specific content areas as well as complete a research course. Information about specific courses will be shared with mentors during mentor professional development.
How Does MTR Handle Resident Underperformance?
Each mentor and resident will be assigned an MTR coach. An MTR coach observes the resident teach every week. Coaches also organize and lead monthly meetings of the coach, mentor, and resident to promote communication and discuss resident growth priorities. The mentor should use the coach as a resource to handle and discuss any concerns with a resident. The coach’s regular presence in the classroom is another chance for mentors and coaches to informally communicate about resident performance and priorities. However, we understand that sometimes there are situations in which a mentor-resident pairing is not a good match. If necessary we will move a resident to a new placement.
What Is Mentor Professional Development?
During the summer, new mentors attend three days of professional development (PD) and returning mentors attend two days. Summer PD provides an opportunity for mentors to learn about MTR, resident coursework, and strategies for effective mentoring. Mentors will meet MTR staff and coaches as well as connect with other mentors. Mentors also spend time with their resident during summer PD. Breakout session options allow mentors to select topics and sessions that seem most helpful. Some of these sessions are led by returning mentors who share what they heave learned from previous years of mentoring.
Additionally, there are three morning half-days of mentor professional development at MTR throughout the school year. Topics covered are specific to the time of year and appropriate stages of resident development during the year. These mornings also serve as additional chances for mentors and coaches to meet and discuss resident growth and priorities.
MTR mentor professional development counts toward SCS professional development requirements.
What Kind Of Support Will I Receive From MTR?
Every resident is assigned an MTR staff instructional coach. The coach observes the resident teach weekly, provides feedback, and checks resident lesson plans in conjunction with the mentor. Coaches also provide support to mentors including a monthly meeting with the resident and mentor to review teaching expectations, celebrate resident growth, and discuss priorities for future resident growth. MTR aims to cluster multiple residents in each residency training school so that mentors will also have the support of colleagues going through the same process. Mentors will be able to meet with other mentors at the mentor professional development.
Can I Mentor For More Than One Year?
Yes. Current or past mentors who wish to mentor again must reapply every year to indicate their interest in continuing as a mentor. We have several mentors who have mentored for many years and continue to open their classroom to empower the next generation of teachers for Memphis students.
As A Mentor, What Are My Weekly Responsibilities?
Paperwork responsibilities for mentors are minimal. Mentors are asked to observe their resident each week and fill out a written observation form for the resident. Mentors are also asked to provide written feedback on lesson plans from their resident. Mentors must also carve out a regularly-scheduled weekly meeting time with their resident; residents take notes at these meetings and turn them into their MTR coach.