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Connect Mentorship Program PK-12 Mentorship Program

PK-12 Mentorship Program

Applications for Cohort #8 Will Open Spring 2025!

A group of adults stands close together all looking down at a paper one is holding.

The program serves as a support system for PK-12 dance teachers with fewer than five years of experience (mentees) in the PK-12 field of dance education. It will also give dance teachers with five or more years of experience in PK-12 (mentors and mentorship supporters) an opportunity to reach out and assist new educators.

New PK-12 dance educators will be paired with experienced dance education mentors, basing matches on criteria such as similar job attributes, disposition and philosophical outlook, and needs. Both mentor, mentee, and mentorship supporter should plan for a two year commitment, however it may continue and grow in an alternate form for as long as the participants wish.

Click Here to Read the Background of the PK-12 Mentorship Program

Mentors

As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to draw from your experience as an educator as you guide a newer dance teacher, significantly contributing to the sustainability of the PK-12 dance education field. If you work in a district with a qualified teacher evaluation system, your participation in the NDEO PK – 12 Mentorship Program may provide exceptional evidence of your service to the field, thus supporting strong ratings.

Mentees

We learn something new every day. This is especially so during the first few years of teaching in PK-12 as you work to juggle teaching responsibilities, curriculum development, program administration, performance productions and your teacher evaluation and tenure process. As a mentee, you will have the support of an experienced mentor/coach selected to match your personal disposition and current teaching situation.

Mentorship Supporters

PK-12 Mentorship supporters will be able to draw from their experiences as educators as they significantly contribute to the sustainability of the PK-12 dance education field. PK-12 Mentorship Supporters will lead conversations and present workshops while sharing their wealth of knowledge, including valuable resources for fellow dance educators.

Goals of the Mentorship Program

To provide a support system for dance educators with fewer than 5 years of experience.
To provide dance educators with 5 or more years of experience the opportunity to assist new dance educators and examine their own teaching strategies and perspectives.
To lower the overall attrition of PK-12 dance educators and teaching positions to increase the stability and sustainability of dance education and provide equity of dance education to every child.

Application and Guidelines

The application contains several short and long response questions in regards to environment, teaching philosophy, strengths as an educator, and more. All positions within the mentorship program are volunteer.

Each mentor/mentee will need to agree to the following guidelines if selected:

2 year commitment
remain a member of NDEO
review the training powerpoint presentations and webinars
set goals and expectations with mentor/mentee
communicate with mentor/mentee partner weekly
complete and submit Google log forms monthly
utilize Basecamp for communication
attend 4 Zoom meetings a year

Each mentorship support will need to agree to the following guidelines if selected:

2 year commitment
Complete the PK-12 Mentorship application
Must have served as a PK-12 dance educator in a PK-12 school for at least 10 or more years
Post at least 1 tool such as a lesson plan, unit plan, assessment, sample assignment per month and monitor the comments and answer any questions that may arise
Post at least 1 question, inquiry, or discussion each month
Host 1 live session per term per year
Participate in Basecamp conversations
Reply to Pings
Attend Mentorship Zoom meetings

A Mentor, Mentee, or Mentorship Supporter may be removed from the program for not adhering to the above listed guidelines.

Not a current NDEO Member? First, sign up For NDEO Membership, OR renew your expired membership before you complete the application. Both Mentor and Mentee must be current NDEO members to apply and remain members throughout the duration of the relationship.

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