Recruiting and retaining top-quality principals is a tough job. New and even experienced principals need support. With high-stakes accountability and increasing demands on school leaders, principal mentors—retired and active seasoned professionals—provide a crucial support system, offering advice and counsel to fellow principals.
Through the National Mentor program, NAESP and Nova Southeastern University (NSU) created the first national mentoring certification for principal mentors. Mentor training is offered through the Leadership Immersion Institute, which can lead to attaining National Principal Mentor Certification with a nine-month internship.
The NAESP National Mentor Program is designed to engage retired and experienced principals to give back to their profession by supporting new, newly assigned, or even experienced principals through mentoring.
The National Mentor Program has two components:
The Leadership Immersion Institute
This 2 1/2 day event teaches principals and other administrators how to integrate best practices in mentoring and adult learning with participants’ experiences. Participants receive 15 continuing education or professional development units (CEUs/PDUs) for completing the Leadership Immersion Institute.
National Principals Mentor Certification Program
Principals who choose certification will follow the institute with a nine-month Mentor-in-Training internship. Interns, under the caring and watchful eye of a trained coach, choose a protégé, engage in effective listening and questioning strategies, and provide guidance and support to new principals. Interns interact with coaches and other trainees through electronic bulletin boards, chats, and threaded discussions, as well as periodic portfolio submissions.
Principals who complete both the institute and the internship are awarded national certification as a principal.
Connecting Leadership Standards
The mentor program applies the six standards from NAESP’s landmark document, Leading Learning Communities: Standards for What Principals Should Know and Be Able to Do, Second Edition. To review the NAESP Mentor Standards please click here.
Participants are instrumental in:
• Creating a model for instructional leadership mentor training that is consistent with professional standards and addresses specific needs of school principals and other administrators.
• Ensuring leadership succession.
• Addressing the leadership needs of new/newly assigned principals.
• Responding to the growing national school leadership shortage.
• Promoting ongoing development of professional mentoring.
Mentor training provides a win-win situation for mentors and their protégés. Mentors give back to the profession while the protégé receives on-the-job training from an experienced principal.
Doctoral Degree Opportunity through Nova Southeastern University
Mentor Certification Program is also an opportunity to earn doctoral degree work. Participants who enroll in an NSU Doctoral Program, can earn credits for their work. This doctoral degree is available completely online as well as at various NSU sites around the country.
In addition NAESP members earn a 20% tuition reduction for themselves and their teachers when enrolling as a new student in doctoral or master’s NSU degree programs.
You can view a list of principals who have completed the rigorous and extensive process of the National Principals Mentor Training and Certificate Program by clicking here.
Register for Mentor Training at these upcoming trainings. Print, complete, and fax your application with one simple form. Also view our promotional flyer for more information.
April 5-7, 2011 - Tampa, FL. More information coming soon.
For more information on NAESP National Mentor Program or if you are interested in setting up mentoring training in your area please contact us at mentor@naesp.org or call (800) 386-2377
NAESP Principals' Helpline
Experienced principals can also volunteer for the NAESP Principals Helpline by answering questions and providing support online. Teams of principals monitor the Helpline and respond to everyday questions that our members ask. It is a great way to provide feedback and reflect on your own work as a school leader! For more information about how you can serve and be involved e-mail mentor@naesp.org.
Have a question? Talk to a seasoned mentor today through the Helpline!
