Each first-year principal, or those first-year principals who
choose to participate in mentoring services in any year when the program is
voluntary under Section
35.20(c),
shall complete a mentoring program that complies with the requirements of this
Section, provided that there is an appropriation for the program applicable to
the fiscal year that includes the individual's first school year of service as
a principal (see Section 2-3.53a of the School Code and Section
35.20
of this Part). If sufficient funding exists to allow for participation of
second-year principals in a mentoring program, then those programs also shall
comply with the requirements of this Section.
a) Mentors who meet the requirements of this
Part shall be paired with participating principals by entities approved under
Section
35.60
of this Part, on the basis of the factors identified in Section 2-3.53a(d) of
the School Code [
105 ILCS
5/2-3.53a(d) ]. Each approved entity
shall notify the affected district superintendents of the assignments made, and
each affected superintendent shall acknowledge each first-year principal's and,
as applicable, each second-year principal's obligation or election to
participate in the program.
b) The
role of each mentor shall include:
1)
collaborating with the assigned principal to identify and guide the principal
in areas for improvement of the new principal's professional growth, including,
but not limited to, professional growth in the areas addressed in the Illinois
Performance Standards for School Leaders (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code
29.100)
;
2) forming a supportive
professional relationship with the participating principal;
3) assisting the participating principal in
adjusting to his or her new role and in developing skill as an instructional
leader;
4) coaching, observing, and
providing feedback to the participating principal on aspects of organizational
management; and
5) helping the
participating principal identify significant problems and issues that act as
barriers to school improvement, as well as meaningful solutions to
these.
c) The number of
contact hours that the mentor and new principal shall spend together in
activities demonstrably involved in the mentoring process, as delineated in
subsection (b), shall be determined annually by the State Superintendent based
upon the number of new principals admitted into the program and the amount of
funding appropriated for the program, and may vary for first-year principals
and second-year principals. Contact hours for mentors and new principals may be
in person, by telephone, online, or by any other mechanism that allows for
synchronous communication between the mentor and new principal. The mentor and
participating principal shall meet in person at least:
1) near the beginning of the school year, in
order to initiate the mentoring relationship, and
2) at the conclusion of the school year, in
order to complete the verification form and certify completion of the program
as required by subsection (f).
d) Time spent traveling by the mentor or
recipient to meet with the other party shall not be counted as part of the
required contact hours. The mentor shall bear the cost of any travel unless
otherwise agreed to by the approved entity or by the mentor's
employer.
e) Each recipient of
mentoring under this Part shall maintain a log of his or her work with the
assigned mentor that includes at least the date of each contact, the purpose,
and the amount of time spent.
f) At
the end of the program year or no later than June 30, verification of program
completion shall be prepared in a format specified by the State Superintendent
of Education and shall be signed by the participating principal and mentor to
signify completion of the work outlined in the log required under subsection
(e).
g) Each approved entity shall
review the accuracy of the verification forms and shall submit a summary of the
information presented in a format specified by the State Superintendent or
designee by June 30 of each year.