Become a Mentor Teacher

Creating The Next Generation of Leaders 

 

What is a IndyTeach Mentor Teacher?

Mentors play a vital role in training, supporting, and inspiring apprentice teachers seeking their license. Mentor teachers at Christel House Indianapolis are full time teachers in the classroom who are paired with an aspiring teacher.  They support the development of the apprentice through fully integrating them into their classroom, gradually letting them take on more responsibility, sharing the triumphs and challenges of teaching, and ensuring they have the skills necessary to lead their own classroom.  

The ideal mentor is an experienced teacher who has demonstrated mastery of culturally responsive, effective instructional practices and understands the skills necessary for urban teachers to be effective leaders in and outside the classroom. Mentors must also have a demonstrated passion for professional learning, a willingness to mentor adults, an unwavering confidence that ALL students can learn, and a demonstrated history of above average student achievement on standardized tests, classwork, credit attainment, etc.

Apply Here To Become an IndyTeach Mentor Teacher

What is IndyTeach?

IndyTeach is about one thing - preparing talented college graduates to become exemplary urban teachers. IndyTeach is an alternative teacher preparation program unlike any other teacher prep program in Indiana. Christel House Indianapolis and IndyTeach are committed to helping prepare educators to better serve students. 

Through the program, apprentice teachers gain invaluable experience in the field of education, while working alongside a mentor teacher. Over the course of a year-long paid apprenticeship, IndyTeach apprentices undergo 3 key stages of transitional development to gain the knowledge and skills of a practicing teacher.  Upon completion of the program and passage of the CORE exams, apprentices qualify for an Indiana Teaching License. 

 

Mentor Qualifications

To qualify, you must:

• Have a valid Indiana Professional Educator License
• Have three years of teaching experience with “Effective” or “Highly Effective” ratings
• Demonstrate excellent communication and organization skills
• Show an enthusiasm for the Christel House community and a willingness to develop future teachers for our network
• Demonstrate a committment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Participate in mentor training during the summer and throughout the school year
• Have a Master’s Degree or higher (preferred)

 

Essential Functions

• Share responsibility for classroom instruction with an apprentice teacher by gradually increasing opportunities to provide full-class instruction 
• Provide specific, consistent feedback to your apprentice including:
  • Regular informal, growth-focused conversations with your apprentice that has both praise/encouragement and constructive feedback on opportunities for improvement 
  • Regular formal feedback to be shared with school and program leadership, including evaluations using the Christel House teacher evaluation rubric
  • Formal feedback on the IndyTeach rubric during 3 program benchmarks
• Co-plan weekly to model effective lesson preparation and ensure high-quality instructional practice
• Guide your apprentice through restorative justice practices and help them develop an equitable learning environment for students
• Create a comfortable climate for both students and apprentices to take risks and work through challenges
• Facilitate opportunities for your apprentice to engage with families in a meaningful way (e.g., interacting with parents at events and participating in student-led conferences).
• Orient apprentices to routines and procedures in the classroom, school-building facilities and resources, school personnel (e.g. special education teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, school secretaries, etc.), and school policies
• Attend professional development specifically designed to support mentor teachers
• Appreciate the apprentice as a professional who brings fresh perspectives and new techniques to the classroom that you are also willing to be a thought partner for, try, and implement.