The California Early Childhood Mentor Program

We are proud to be part of the California Early Childhood Mentor Program. This program provides mentoring support and services from experienced ECE professionals to both student teachers and directors in the community.

What is a Mentor Teacher?
Mentor Teachers are experienced early childhood education teachers of infants, toddlers, preschoolers or school age children who accept student teachers into her or his classroom for placement experience. The Mentor provides a unique one-on-one learning relationship with the student teacher in the practical aspects of both working with young children and acting as a leader and advocate for the child care profession. The Mentor receives a stipend for each student placed in her or his classroom. The Mentor is also offered support for her or his own professional development through a Mentor In-Service Training Component which focuses on supervision, leadership and advocacy strategies.

Why have Mentor Teachers? In addition to earning a stipend for mentoring, Mentor Teachers are acknowledged for their leadership capabilities and "role-modeling" of quality care and education. The status as Mentor Teacher and the monetary incentive may ensure their retention in the ECE field. An opportunity to share their expertise with novice teachers can be a highly rewarding experience for experienced teachers.

Student teachers who work with mentors have a greater choice of time, location and type of field experience. Mentors and student teachers work on a one-to-one basis, allowing for intensive guidance and feedback.

Participating centers benefit from increased professional growth for their staff. Mentor Teachers improved their skills and their ability to communicate their knowledge to other staff. College training through onsite field experience can be provided for the entire staff. Young children and their families benefit from improved child care resulting from reduced staff turnover, increased teacher satisfaction and a well trained staff.

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What is the Child Care Center's role?
Centers support their Mentor Teacher by providing a setting where quality teaching and learning can take place. This includes the following:

• Signing a written agreement and statement of interest by the center director
  
  
• Certifying program quality by NAEYC Accreditation or similar self-study using the Harms-Clifford Environmental Rating Scales.
  
  
• Permitting program observation and self-study review by members of the Mentor Selection Committee.
  
  
• Providing preparation and conference time for Mentor and student
  
  
• Maintaining adequate adult-child ratios during student teaching hours

How does one become a Mentor Teacher?
There are three steps:

1. Complete a college early childhood degree or certificate program that includes supervised student teaching or a CDA (direct assessment in place of student teaching) in an early childhood setting.
   
   
2. Meet the requirements for the Master Teacher Level of the California Child Development Permit Matrix. This 24 units in ECE, 16 General Education units, 6 specialization units and 2 adult supervision units (Adult Supervision and Mentoring course).
   
   
3. Apply to become a Mentor to the Mentor Selection Committee which include:
   
   • Transcripts of all relevant coursework
     
     
   • Complete history of all relevant experience
     
     
   • Three letters or recommendation
     
     
   • Written statement of philosophy, methods and reasons for wanting to become a mentor
     
     
   • Written evidence of the employer's interest and agreement
     
     
4. The Mentor Selection Committee meets twice each year to review all application materials and program quality assessment measures. Those applicants who are selected as Mentors will be assigned student teachers according to demand and funds available. Mentor performance and sites will be periodically reviewed.

   What is the Mentor In-Service Training Component? A monthly Mentor Teacher Seminar course is provided by Santa Rosa Junior College. This seminar combines informal discussion and peer support with more formalized training in supervision strategies, leadership and advocacy skills. In addition to the monthly Mentor meeting, Mentor Teachers engage in other professional activities which could include speaking at ECE classes, giving interviews, and presenting at conferences. Mentors receive a stipend of up to $500 for participation in this In-Service Training.

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What is a Director Mentor?
A Director Mentor is an early childhood administrator with at least three years of administrative experience, currently or formerly employed as a director of site supervisor in a center-based child development of family day care program, who is available to mentor protege directors. The Director Mentor provides a unique one-on-one learning relationship with the protege director in the practical and theoretical aspects of Center administration and leadership while receiving a stipend of each protege director mentored. The Director Mentor is also offered support for her or his own professional development through a monthly Director Seminar which focuses on supervision, leadership and advocacy strategies.

Why have Director Mentors?
It is vital that new or developing directors have an opportunity for guidance and support in the management of the programs. Other businesses have proven that mentoring in invaluable in providing the information and support needed in successful administration. The Director Mentor shares her or his expertise with others in the community and is acknowledged for her/his contributions with a monetary stipend.

How does one become a Director Mentor?
There are three steps:

1. Complete a two-day Director Mentor Institute which is offered at various times throughout the year by the Mentor Program
   
   
2. Apply to the Mentor Program which includes:
   
   • References
   • Transcripts of relevant coursework
   • Verification of areas of expertise
   • Verification of areas of expertise
   • Upon passing the initial paper screening, a site visit by the local Mentor Selection Committee to observe the program for minimum quality standard is conducted
   
   
3. After the visit to the worksite, the Selection Committee reviews all the materials and makes the final determination about selection. Priority points are awarded if a classroom Mentor Teacher works, or has worked, in the program; for the need for particular areas of expertise in the community and within the existing group of Director Mentors; for characteristics which increase the cultural and/or linguistic diversity of the existing group of Director mentors; and for other criteria determined to be priorities by the local Selection Committee.

What are the "minimum quality standard" that a program could be judged on?
The Mentor Program is interested in supporting quality improvements in the care of young children. The program quality assessments that can be used:

• Harms-Clifford Environmental Rating Scales (ITERS, ECERS, FDCERS, SACERS)
• NAEYC Accreditation
• EPS/Desired Results

What is the monthly Director Seminar?
Each Mentor Program develops and offers a monthly seminar to provide ongoing support and training for Director Mentors, proteges, and other interested directors in the community. The Director Seminar Facilitator presents topics that are of interest to the participants. The seminar is an active support group where current administrative and programmatic issues are discussed and ideas shared.

What is a stipend?
A stipend is a monetary reimbursement for the technical support provided for each protege director. Five hundred dollars are paid for a minimum of twenty hours of contact time between the Mentor and the protege. Contact time may consist of oral and written communication, meetings and visits by the Mentor to the protege director's worksite, or other types of useful interactions. All activities and contact hours must be documented prior to payment of the stipend.

For more information contact:
Charlene Morita
Mentor Program Coordinator
Santa Rosa Junior College, Child Development Department
(707) 527-4999, ext. 5305

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Mentor Teachers:
Diane Arapov
Adobe Christian Preschool & Day Care Petaluma
2875 Adobe Road
Petaluma, CA 94954
762-7713

Judy Berry
Taylor Mountain Child Development Center
1606 Gravenstein Highway
Sebastopol, CA 95472
824-4383

Maureen Bush
Happy Day Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten
939 B Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
762-8671

Beth Duede
Multi-Cultural Child Development Center
1650 3rd Street
Santa Rosa, CA 65407
544-0104

Judi Fors
Live Oak Preschool
75 West Matheson St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
433-1543

Cathy McLallen
Sunflower Preschool
2804 Thorn Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
829-1210

Doris Wilson
San Miguel Extended Care
5350 Faught Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
546-0667

Carol Josephson
Brush Creek Nursery School
4657 Badger Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
539-1612

Franny Minervini-Zick
Tree House Hollow
919 McFarlane Ave.
Sebastapol, CA 95472
823-1958

Mentor Directors
Anne Abrams
Multi-Cultural Child Development Center
1650 3rd Street
Santa Rosa, CA 65407
544-0104

Shirley Caine
Happy Day Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten
939 B Street (P.O. Box 1038)
Petaluma, CA 94953
762-8671

Kathy Curtis
Bethlehem Children's Center
1300 St. Francis Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
538-2266

Tone Davis
Adobe Christian Preschool & Day Care
2875 Adobe Road
Petaluma, CA 94954
762-7713

Linda Dusek
4C's Petaluma Child Development Center
401 South McDowell Boulevard
Petaluma, CA 94954
763-4990

Carolyn Maloney
320 North McDowell Blvd.
City of Petaluma Tiny Tots Program
Petaluma, CA 94952
778-4407

Cynara Martin
Live Oak Preschool
75 West Matheson St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
433-1543

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