CERRA believes that a strong system of mentoring is vital to support new teachers and improve teacher retention rates in South Carolina. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, you are in the right place. Below you will find descriptions of the various mentoring initiatives at CERRA. In April 2013, CERRA administered a survey to more than 500 certified mentors and beginning teachers in nine South Carolina public school districts to collect feedback on the initial mentor training. Data collected from these surveys, as well as a dissertation written about the impact of the training, were used to inform CERRA’s decision to develop a new mentor training program. In collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), the initial mentor training has been transformed into the South Carolina Mentor Training. The new training is based on extensive research, with invaluable feedback from educators across the state. Significant additions to the new training include instruction on the mentoring cycle, evidence gathering strategies, and specific guidance on writing Student Learning Objectives (SLOs).
