Teacher Mentor

West Virginia Department of Education; West Virginia; On-site; USD 1,200 - 3,600; Part time

Job summary

Pocahontas County Schools seeks mentors under the West Virginia Department of Education mentoring program to support first-year and new teachers. Mentors collaborate with school leaders to strengthen instructional practice, provide on-site, job-embedded development, and guide mentees toward higher student achievement.

Responsibilities include planning, feedback, observation, data-driven coaching, and monthly training. Mentors document activities, submit timesheets, and maintain confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Valid WV Professional Teaching Certificate for the relevant grade level/content area.
• Criminal background check completed as required by WV code.
• Minimum five years of successful teaching experience.
• Completion of WVDE Mentorship Course within the last five years or NBCT.
• Current Pocahontas County Schools employee.

Responsibilities

• Assist mentee in planning and aligning instruction with standards.
• Provide feedback on lesson plans and professional preparation.
• Observe and coach mentees; model effective instructional practices.
• Support development of a positive classroom environment and high expectations.
• Maintain documentation and participate in monthly mentor training.

Skills

Mentoring

Communication

Professionalism

Education

West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate

Job description

LOCATION

Countywide

CLASSIFICATION

Professional

REPORTS TO

Director of Federal Programs, School Improvement, Textbooks and Community Engagement, Director of Personnel/Pre-K, and Building Principal

EVALUATION

Performance shall be evaluated in accordance with program expectations and county procedures.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

CONTRACT

Extracurricular / Supplemental Assignment

COMPENSATION

$600 per assigned mentee. Mentors must provide a minimum of twenty-four (24) documented hours of mentoring services per mentee at a rate equivalent to $25.00 per hour. Mentors may be assigned a maximum of three (3) mentees.

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

2026-2027 School Year

JOB DESCRIPTION - Based on Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching

"Mentoring" means working under the direction of the Director of Federal Programs, Curriculum, School Improvement, Textbooks and Community Engagement and the Director of Personnel/Pre-K, with guidance from the school principal, to improve the professional practice, knowledge, and skills of teachers employed by Pocahontas County Schools.

The mentor works collaboratively with the mentee, school administrators, and other educational professionals to strengthen instructional practice, professional knowledge, classroom management, and overall effectiveness in supporting student achievement. The mentor-mentee relationship is intended to provide on-site, job-embedded professional development for first-year teachers and teachers who are new to Pocahontas County Schools.

Mentoring includes, but is not limited to, serving in an assigned role within the comprehensive system of teacher induction, support, professional growth, and continuous improvement established by Pocahontas County Schools. Mentoring is intended to support teacher induction, professional growth, retention, and ongoing development. The mentor serves as a trusted professional resource and provides guidance through regular communication, observation, coaching, modeling, collaboration, and constructive feedback.

Additional support is provided through monthly training.

ELIGIBILITY OF MENTEES

Mentoring services may be provided to:

• Teachers with zero (0) or one (1) year of teaching experience; and/or
• Teachers who are new to Pocahontas County Schools as determined by the Director of Personnel and Director of Federal Programs, Curriculum, School Improvement, Textbooks and Community Engagement
• Teachers identified by a principal, the Director of Personnel/Pre-K, or the Director of Federal Programs, Curriculum, School Improvement, Textbooks and Community Engagement as needing additional professional support

QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate appropriate to the grade level and/or content area pursuant to WV Code §18A-3-2.
• Criminal background check conducted pursuant to applicable West Virginia Code requirements.
• Meet qualifications outlined in WV Code §18A-3-2a.
• Minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching experience.
• Completion of the WVDE Mentorship Course within the previous five years with documentation on file with Pocahontas County Schools, or National Board Certification.
• Current employee of Pocahontas County Schools.
• Work at the same programmatic level as the assigned mentee whenever possible.
• Demonstrate effective standards-based instructional practices as evidenced through educator evaluations reflecting ratings of Accomplished or Distinguished.
• Mentors assigned to Special Education teachers must hold appropriate Special Education certification.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, establish positive professional relationships, and provide constructive feedback.

Planning and Preparation

• Assist the mentee in planning and preparation for instruction, including content knowledge, pedagogy, setting instructional outcomes, designing coherent instruction, and aligning assessments with standards and instruction.
• Support the mentee in developing standards-based lesson plans that demonstrate appropriate scope, sequence, pacing, and integration of county-approved curriculum materials.
• Provide feedback on lesson plans and instructional preparation to ensure alignment to the West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards and county instructional expectations.
• Assist the mentee in establishing professional growth goals and monitoring progress toward completion of those goals.

Instruction

• Work with the mentee to strengthen instructional practices, including effective communication with students, lesson planning, forecasting instructional activities, questioning and discussion techniques, student engagement strategies, assessment practices, and instructional flexibility.
• Support the mentee in using formative and summative assessments as instructional tools to improve student learning outcomes.
• Model and discuss research-based instructional practices, including the "Model It, Try It, Connect It" approach to instruction when appropriate.
• Encourage reflective conversations focused on instructional effectiveness and student achievement.
• Allow opportunities for the mentee to observe the mentor's classroom and instructional practices when appropriate.
• Assist the mentee in developing a classroom environment that establishes high expectations for student learning and behavior.
• Support the development of positive rapport and relationships with students.
• Guide the mentee in establishing a culture of learning that promotes student engagement, responsibility, and participation in standards-based activities.
• Provide guidance regarding classroom management practices, procedures, routines, and strategies that maximize instructional time.

Observation and Feedback

• Conduct regular mentoring and coaching sessions throughout the school year.
• Meet with the mentee on at least a bi-weekly basis, with a minimum of one in‑person mentoring session each month.
• Observe the mentee's classroom instruction and provide timely feedback regarding lesson implementation, instructional practices, classroom management, and student engagement.
• Utilize one day of professional leave, when available, to conduct classroom observations and follow‑up coaching conversations.
• Provide constructive feedback designed to support professional growth and continuous improvement.

Professional Responsibilities

• Assist the mentee in developing professional responsibilities grounded in reflective teaching and continuous improvement.
• Support the mentee in maintaining accurate records and documentation.
• Assist the mentee in developing effective communication practices with families and stakeholders.
• Encourage active participation in the professional community and ongoing professional learning.
• Provide guidance regarding organization, time management, professionalism, ethical conduct, and county procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding mentoring discussions and professional matters.

Documentation and Program Requirements

• Maintain documentation of all mentoring activities and services provided.
• Submit monthly timesheets and required mentoring documentation by established deadlines.
• Attend monthly mentor meetings at the Pocahontas County Board of Education Office or other designated location as required.
• Communicate with program administrators regarding mentoring activities and progress.

Fulfill all requirements of the Pocahontas County Schools mentoring program and applicable WVDE mentoring requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to reach, stand, walk, lift, grasp, write, talk, hear, see, use technology such as computers and multimedia equipment, and use repetitive motions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may frequently lift and/or move at least 50 pounds of materials. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff members.

WORKENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Most commonly, the educational setting is indoors. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. The information contained in the job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed by this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pocahontas County Schools will grant equal employment opportunity to all persons, regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, or handicap, and there will be no discrimination based on these factors in the salary, promotion, demotion, or termination of any employee. Anydiscrimination concernsshould be directed in writing to the Personnel Director, Pocahontas County Schools, 404 Old Buckeye Rd, Buckeye, WV 24924.