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Putting the PRO in Protégé:
A Guide to Mentoring in
Head Start and Early Head Start

Appendix C: An Overview of Key Mentoring Features in Selected Organizations

This appendix provides a brief overview of some key elements of mentoring in agencies that were identified earlier in this publication. These elements are in chart form to allow an easy comparison of organizations. Topics included in the overview are agency support, mentoring structures, and mentor training and follow-up. The chart includes contact information for follow-up purposes. Agencies need to think about which mentoring approaches will work best for them, given their unique program structure and needs.

An Overview of Mentoring in Several Programs

Head Start

Other Child Care Agencies

Other Programs

 

Head Start Agencies
Program Name Organizational Support Mentoring Structure Training and Follow-up
Adams County Head Start

Box 3757
Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717) 337-1337		 The supervisor oversees the mentor-protégé relationship.

Merit pay increases are granted for some excellent Head Teachers if the budget allows.		 Protégés are new teachers (Assistant Teachers) and are paired with mentors (Head Teachers).

Mentors and protégés work together on a daily basis.		 The supervisor conducts in-house mentor training on how to coach and mentor.
Stanislaus County Office of Education Teaching Center
(formerly Stanislaus County Migrant Head Start)

1324 Celeste Drive
Modesto, CA 95355-2402

(209) 558-4030		 Mentors receive a larger salary than nonmentors with the same years of experience.

Mentors are granted release time. A substitute is hired to teach the mentor’s class when the mentor works with the protégé.

Mentors work closely and meet frequently with the project specialist who oversees the mentoring program. The project specialist observes the mentor and the protégé and provides the mentor with resources.		 Protégés are new child care teachers. They may be teachers, site directors, or family service workers from all different programs. Protégés complete an application.
Mentors are experienced child care teachers who complete an application and are interviewed.

Mentors are responsible for one protégé and occasionally two.

Mentors work with one protégé for one full week on a daily basis.

After the week ends, mentors and protégés maintain contact by phone.		 Mentors attend training once a year in Stanislaus County.

Mentors receive up-to-date resources to help them with their mentoring.
Tri-County Head Start

775 Hazen Street
Paw Paw, MI 49079

(800) 792-0366		 Mentors work directly under the Education Service Manager.

Mentors have frequent meetings with the Education Service Manager.		 Protégés are either new or experienced teachers.
Mentoring is part of the job requirement for education service staff.

Each mentor works with several protégés.

Mentors meet two hours a month with their protégés.		 In-house training is conducted every two weeks on adult development or program development.
Upper East Tennessee Head Start
Teacher Training Program

P.O. Box 46
Kingsport, TN 37662

(423) 246-6180

This mentoring program is for Head Start parents who wish to teach.		 A pay increase is offered for mentors. Protégés are Head Start parents.
Mentors are Lead Teachers with several years’ experience.

Each mentor works with one protégé.

The mentor-protégé relationship lasts one school year.		 There are mentor workshops in managerial skills, but no specific curricula are in place.
Denver City Head Start

280 14th Street
Denver, CO 80202

(303) 640-6033		 Mentors receive a $500 stipend.

Protégés receive a $200 stipend.

There is a part-time mentor coordinator.

Additional stipends are paid to staff mentoring more than one protégé.		 Protégés are both new and experienced family service workers and teachers.
Mentors are experienced staff and child care teachers from other organizations.

Mentors and protégés meet monthly and have weekly telephone calls.

Mentors work with one or two protégés.

The relationship lasts six months.		 Mentors participate in a weeklong training in Denver.

The training content was developed by Denver City Head Start. Topics include the foundation and knowledge of mentoring; establishing relationships; and effective communication strategies with protégés.
Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. Head Start

101 Robins Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342

(712) 859-3885, ext. 318		 Mentors receive a stipend.

The program holds an annual dinner meeting for mentors.		 Protégés are new teachers.
Mentors are experienced teachers in the program.

Each mentor works with one protégé through classroom visits and telephone calls.

The relationship lasts one year.		 Mentors receive training by the education coordinator during a one-hour in-service program.

Mentors receive a letter highlighting the key points of the mentoring program.
Bi County Community Action Program Head Start (MN)

P.O. Box 99
Ah Gwah Ching, MN 56430

(218) 751-4631		 Mentors have a higher job classification than other staff. Protégés are new teachers, but the mentor works with the entire classroom team.
The mentor is the Classroom Coordinator, who supervises and mentors three staff teams in addition to other responsibilities.		 There is ongoing in-house staff training for mentors.
Miami Valley Child Development Centers

215 Horace Street
Dayton, OH 45407-3318

(937) 226-5664		 Teachers are granted release time for workshops and for Teacher Steering Committee meetings. Teachers attend a Lead Teacher Steering Committee, which meets monthly to plan workshops in which mentoring occurs.

Protégé-mentor roles are flexible. A teacher may mentor a peer in one content area and be mentored in another. Relationships are ongoing.		 The Teacher Steering Committee workshops combine ongoing professional development with peer mentoring.
Early Head Start Program in Canon City, CO

1401 Oak Creek,
Grade Road
Canon City, CO 81212

(719) 269-1523		 Mentors are given a raise. Protégés are new staff (mandatory).
Mentors are teachers with four to five years of experience.

Mentors and protégés meet once a month and have telephone contact.

Mentors are responsible for 10 protégés.		 Mentors are trained in reflective supervision.

Mentors meet as a group monthly or bimonthly.
Lee County Pre-K Head Start Program

APPLES Program for New Teachers
Lee County, FL

(941) 332-2512		 Mentors receive a stipend of $305.

Release time is granted for mentoring.		 Protégés are teachers who are new in general, who are new to the district, or who are changing the age or grade level they teach.
Mentors are teachers from the Head Start program.

Mentors each work with one protégé. Mentors and protégés meet frequently. The relationship lasts one year.		 Mentors attend a two-day course on collegial coaching.
Wabash Area Development, Inc.

110 Latham
P.O. Box 70
Enfield, IL 67835

(618) 963-2387		 Mentors receive recognition. Twice a year staff are brought together to share their experiences with the mentoring program.

Mentors may attend workshops and national or local conferences.		 Protégés are new teachers, all of whom are mentored. Mentoring is optional for experienced staff.
Mentors are experienced staff: home visitors who mentor other home visitors; site supervisors who mentor other site supervisors or home visitors; or program coordinators who mentor other program coordinators, home visitors, or site supervisors.

Mentors and protégé meet when available.

Observation and conferencing strategies are used.

Each mentor works with one protégé.		 Mentors receive current and up-to-date information to support their teaching and mentoring practices.
Region I Head Start Quality Improvement Center

55 Chapel Street
Newton, MA 02158-1060

(617) 969-7100		 The Head Start Quality Improvement Center (HSQIC) pays for two days of the mentor-consultant’s time. Protégés are new managers.
Mentors are consultants.

Mentors provide two days of onsite mentoring, usually at the protégé’s site, with follow-up telephone calls.

Mentors work with one protégé.

The relationship lasts up to six months.		 Mentoring tips are provided.

There is no formal training.
Region VII Mentor/Protégé Development Program

Head Start Quality Improvement Center

6608 Raytown Road
Suite 102
Raytown, MO 64133

(816) 356-5373		 The program pays for two visits for the mentor to visit the protégé and for the protégé to visit the mentor.

The mentor's time is paid at the rate of $225 a day.		 New Head Start directors, component coordinators, or area managers may apply to be protégés.

Mentors are consultants identified by the HSQIC.

Each mentor works with one protégé.

There are four site visits plus telephone contact.

The relationship lasts one year.		 Mentors are paid to attend a two-day training in communication skills.

Mentors are sent a letter and the program’s guidebook.

 

Other Child Care Agencies
Program Name Organizational Support Mentoring Structure Training and Follow-up
Maryland Committee for Children

SMILE Program (Supported Mentoring Instructional Learning Experience)

608 Water Street
Baltimore, MD 21202-7588

(410) 752-6286		 There are support groups for both mentors and protégés combined and also for mentors and protégés separately.

Mentors receive a $200 stipend, release time to mentor, and a substitute allowance for site visits.

College credit for participation in training is also provided.		 Protégés are new child care teachers in either center-based or family settings.
Mentors are experienced child care teachers.

Both protégés and mentors must apply.

Mentors conduct site visits.

Mentors each work with one protégé.

There are monthly group meetings. Mentors and protégés attend some training together.

The relationship lasts five months.		 Mentors attend 18 hours of training. Topics include the mentor-protégé relationship, reflective practices for caregivers, adult learning and development, and cultural diversity.

There is continued professional development for mentors and protégés; protégés and mentors each attend a certain number of courses.
Kinder Care

P.O. Box 6760
Portland, OR 97228

(800) 633-1488		 Mentors may be eligible for promotion to higher levels of management. Protégés are new teachers.
Mentors are experienced teachers.

Mentors and protégés work together in the classroom or meet weekly.

Each mentor works with one or more protégés.		 All teachers who are new to the program participate in two training sessions.

Training materials are updated as needed.

 

Other Programs
Program Name Organizational Support Mentoring Structure Training and Follow-up
Army Child Care

ATTN: CFSC– SFCY
4700 King Street
4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22302-4415

(703) 681-5385		 Mentors move to a higher pay range.

Release time is granted by reducing mentors’ other responsibilities by hour.		 Protégés are new child care staff.
Mentors are experienced child care workers.

Each mentor works with one protégé.		 Mentors have 40 hours of training in using the curriculum developed by Bellm, Whitebook, and Hnatiuk (1997).
Impact II-The Teachers Network

285 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013

(212) 966-5582

Two programs: TeachNet mentors (face-to-face, in-person); TeachNet web mentors (e-mail).		 The mentors receive $1000 a year.

Mentors are given training materials and publications.

Mentors attend an annual four-day meeting with all expenses paid.

There are monthly conference calls with the program director and mentors.

Mentors contribute to an on-going listserv (e-mail discussion).		 Protégés are new or experienced teachers.
Mentors are experienced public school teachers.

Each face-to-face mentor has five protégés with whom they meet weekly or bimonthly.

E-mail mentors have 10 protégés each with whom they conference monthly, time permitting.		 Guest speakers or staff conduct annual training. Topics include curriculum development techniques and technology in the classroom.
State of Wisconsin,
Department of Work Force Development

201 E. Washington Avenue
Room 170
P.O. Box 7935
Madison, WI 53707

(608) 261-6974

The State funds mentoring programs.		 The mentor stipend is $400 to $500.

Additional funds are provided for materials.

Tuition reimbursement is provided for the training seminar.

Field instructors work with mentors on an ongoing basis.		 Protégés are low-income individuals interested in child care careers or are new child care teachers.
Mentors are experienced teachers.

Each mentor works with one protégé.

Mentors and protégés meet four hours a week.

One night a week they attend a course together.

The relationship lasts 16 to 18 weeks.		 A mentor seminar is held at a local technical college, and attendees receive two credits.
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20210

(202) 219-5921		 Some States may provide mentor stipends.

Protégés may receive course credit.		 Protégés are new child care teachers from Head Start and other agencies.
Mentors are full-time and come from outside the organization.

Mentors and protégés meet daily.

Each mentor works with one to three protégés.		 Training is conducted in a weeklong academy.

Mandatory updates occur every two years.

 

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