The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is recruiting active and retired classroom teachers and administrators to serve two years as mentors to educators new to the profession.
The mentoring program, sponsored by the department and the University of Alaska, is scheduled to begin next fall. The goal is to increase the quality of instruction, improve teacher retention and increase student achievement. About 30 mentors are needed to serve the anticipated 350 new educators next fall.
Applicants should have strong interpersonal skills, demonstrate excellent classroom practices, have credibility with peers and administrators, demonstrate curiosity and eagerness to learn, have respect for multiple perspectives, demonstrate commitment to improving academic achievement and have a deep knowledge of the subject they teach.
Applicants will be screened, interviewed and selected by the end of May. Mentors will receive training throughout the coming school year.
Applications and more information are available online at www.eed.state.ak.us under "headlines." The deadline for ap-plications is Friday.
